Ealing Family Locked Out of B&B After Council Halts Housing Benefit
A mother and her 11-year-old daughter from Ealing faced a shocking eviction when they returned from school uniform shopping to find the locks changed on their emergency accommodation. The family, including a 25-year-old son, became homeless after Ealing Council stopped paying their housing benefit, which funded their stay in a Uxbridge B&B. This sudden action followed the family's rejection of a housing offer located nearly 25 miles away in Ilford, deemed impossible due to work and school commitments.
Pressure and Communication Breakdown in Housing Process
Tsgae Berhane, a carer and mother of two, described feeling pressured by Ealing Council to accept the distant housing offer. She claims she was not provided with a translator during the offer, despite her son Daimen typically assisting with translation, a fact the council was aware of. Tsgae stated, "They make you scared, like the way they pressure you, the tone and language they use… say things like 'you have to go to this one', you have kids, you have to go, if you don't have anything you have to accept it'." The council discharged its duty after the refusal, citing it as unreasonable, though the family appealed with support from the daughter's school highlighting mental health and educational concerns.
History of Instability and Legal Breaches
The family's housing struggles date back to 2017 when they received a no-fault eviction from a private rental in West Ealing. Ealing Council placed them in a Hayes B&B for four months, exceeding the legal six-week limit for emergency accommodation. They then lived in temporary housing for seven years until another no-fault eviction in September 2025 forced them into a Uxbridge B&B. Despite rules limiting such stays to six weeks, they remained there until the recent lockout. During this period, the family reported no contact from the council, adding to their distress.
Sudden Eviction and Financial Hardship
In April 2026, without warning, Ealing Council ceased housing benefit payments for the B&B. The family discovered this from the unhappy B&B owner and were locked out while shopping for school uniforms. Forced to sleep on friends' floors initially, they eventually paid £100 per night for a hotel and storage. Daimen expressed frustration, saying, "There was no communication of them telling us this would stop. It's draining every day seeing your mother cry, seeing your sister cry and ask what's going on." After media intervention, the council resumed duty, placing the family in a Hayes hotel and offering a viewing in Harrow.
Council Response and Ongoing Uncertainty
Ealing Council did not respond to requests for comment by publication time. However, following contact from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council quickly reinstated support. The family now awaits a formal email invitation for the Harrow viewing to avoid confusion. This case highlights broader issues in London, where residents often face homelessness threats over housing refusals, sparking calls for policy changes to protect vulnerable families.
