Single mum has spent five years sleeping on the sofa while on council house waiting list in Leeds

A mother says she doesn't stand a chance in improving her living situation due to extortionate private rent rates and lengthy council house waiting lists.
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Care worker Allisa Wardell has been sleeping on the sofa in her two-bedroomed council flat in Bramley for five years while her two teenage sons have the bedrooms.

Feeling utterly desperate about her housing situation, she says to the YEP: “I don’t stand a chance.”

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Ms Wardell shows where water is running down the walls of her flat.Ms Wardell shows where water is running down the walls of her flat.
Ms Wardell shows where water is running down the walls of her flat.
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Since then, she has been in a flat with her youngest two sons – now 14 and 17. It does not have enough space for the three of them to each have their own bedroom so she sleeps in the living room.

There are tobacco stains running down the wall from the previous tenant. Damp in her youngest son’s room is making him ill to the extent that it is affecting his school work, so now he sleeps in the living room with her.

Ms Wardell, who is listed as priority B, says she has been on the list to be re-housed since the day she moved in and fears it could be another four years before an alternative property becomes available for the family.

“I have looked at private rented but I can’t afford it,” she said. “I am a single parent and work 20 hours a week. I was full-time but have depression because of this. I have been put on tablets. I didn’t want to but don’t sleep. I am constantly tired.

Allisa Wardell in her two bed council flat on Landseer Road, Bramley, Leeds with two teenage boys 17 and 14 which she claims  has bad damp, and water dripping down the walls.   Picture Tony JohnsonAllisa Wardell in her two bed council flat on Landseer Road, Bramley, Leeds with two teenage boys 17 and 14 which she claims  has bad damp, and water dripping down the walls.   Picture Tony Johnson
Allisa Wardell in her two bed council flat on Landseer Road, Bramley, Leeds with two teenage boys 17 and 14 which she claims has bad damp, and water dripping down the walls. Picture Tony Johnson
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“One place I looked at was £700 a month, plus fees on top of that. It is £1,000 before I even move in – I don’t stand a chance.”

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: "We are sorry to hear of the problems that Ms Wardelle is experiencing and will be contacting her at the start of this week to talk through her concerns.”