英國六口之家放棄安居房，朋友家院子搭帳篷

A family of six are living in a tent at the bottom of a friend's garden after being refused a council house because they would not abandon their pets.

Lorraine Botton, 54, and her five children moved from East Sussex to Kent with the promise of a new home, but got in a row over their four dogs and three budgies.
They claim they were told to give them away if they wanted a council property, so turned the house down.

Lorraine is squeezed inside the 12ft by 10ft tent - designed to sleep four - with children Moses, 18, Caleb, 19, Genty, 22, Louise, 26, and Naomi, 36 - as well as their pets.

It has two sleeping compartment designed for two adults in each and a central communal area.

They've managed to find room for some home comforts including a TV, fridge, tumble dryer, iron, an electric heater and lamps.

But they have no running water and are relying on their friends for their toilet, washing and laundry facilities.

Housing chiefs in Maidstone, Kent have warned Lorraine it could be Christmas before a property which allows pets becomes available.

But she still refuses to get rid of her precious pets and said she would squat if nothing is found before winter.

She said: 'I feel scared that someone will unzip the tent and hurt us, or even murder us.

'We need a property as soon as possible so we are safe. I just want to be able to lock my front door.

'If we don't get a house soon, we will have to squat.

'I've been told there might not be anything available until Christmas, and we can't wait that long. We'll freeze to death.

'The tent leaks and it is cold. I have to go outside with a little cooker to make food, often in the rain.

'That is not right. I shouldn't have to beg people for baths or to do my washing.'

Lorraine, who suffers from epilepsy and arthritis, claims she was hounded out of their last home in Hastings, East Sussex.

She and her family stayed in a B&B for two years before moving to Maidstone in August to be closer to relatives.

A Maidstone Borough Council spokesman said he could not comment on specific housing applications but admitted there was a 'limited supply' of social housing.

He said: 'We have a responsibility to provide families in priority housing need with emergency accommodation, and whilst they are in temporary accommodation to assess their need.

'If we accept a family on to the housing register, it can take some time to find suitable accommodation depending on their circumstances and availability.'

【新聞快訊】

54歲的英國女子帶着五個孩子，四隻狗狗，三隻鸚鵡，準備搬進政府準備的條件良好，設施完善的安居房。出乎意料地是，安居房的管理人出於衛生和安全的考慮，拒絕寵物入住，要求她在聖誕節前放棄陪伴她的狗狗和鸚鵡後方可入住，可是這位54歲的女子真心不願意離開陪伴左右，家人一般的狗狗和鸚鵡。因此她帶着孩子，狗狗和鸚鵡在朋友家的院子裏搭建帳篷住下了。帳篷的生活並不舒適，天氣漸涼，帳篷裏面很冷，常常漏雨，做飯個人衛生都相當不便。