Temporary accommodation: ‘I’ve moved seven times in five months’

Haringey Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and planning, councillor Sarah Williams, said its record of events “differed significantly”.

Ms Williams disputed Ms Barley’s claims of moving seven times in three months, saying she moved four times into or between hotels specifically.

However, Ms Barley said this excluded her two temporary accommodation placements outside of hotels and the time she moved her family into a hotel overnight because her temporary accommodation had leaks which caused electrics to cut out.

Ms Williams continued: “We were able to provide a temporary move into a two-bed council home which had a functioning bath when Laura started the tenancy, and we paid for all removal costs.

“We have been in contact with Laura who has not told us of any issues with the property, including the bath”, she said.

She added the council was working complete the works and enable the family to return home in the near future and would continue to support the family.

Ms Williams added the borough had “insufficient permanent accommodation” due to “the ongoing housing crisis, a combination of right-to-buy and a shortage of social housing.

“We have more than 1,300 households with the same or higher priority than Laura.”