We’re scapegoats, say council staff sacked over £1.2m home for refugees

Three council workers sacked after housing an Afghan family in a £1.2 million property say they have been made "scapegoats" and were simply following the rules.

David Lewis, Gemma Calliste and Salma Khan said they were marched from Ealing Town Hall after their housing department team was scrapped.

The employees — all on temporary contracts — said council bosses were furious after the story of how the taxpayer was footing the £12,000-a-month bill for the home in Acton was leaked.

Ms Calliste, 33, said: "We were summoned to the manager's office and he said you had instructions from above and the Rent Deposit Scheme was being scrapped with immediate effect so we were no longer required.

"As we are contractors they said we had to be escorted from the building there and then. We were treated like thieves. I think they were looking for scapegoats because it was embarrassing for the council and when they found out we were temps that was it."

Mr Lewis, 37, said unemployed single mother Toorpakai Saindi and her seven children had been referred to them by the homeless persons unit.

They were then required to find a suitable seven-bedroom property from a private landlord within rent guidelines set by government agency Rent Services under rules introduced in April. Mr Lewis said: "We were just doing our job, but it's a stupid system. I thought £12,000 a month was a lot but it was agreed by Rent Services so it was OK.

"We have basically been sacked with no notice. We were about to get permanent contracts and all of that has been taken away from us.

"But we haven't done anything wrong. All we've done is apply the rules and find a property for a family in need."

Mrs Saindi was put in the house with her four sons and three daughters after Ealing council said it did not have one big enough.

Will Brooks, the council's cabinet member for housing, said there were "very few seven-bedroom properties" available. As a result a private landlord was paid £12,458 a month in housing benefit, more than double the market rate. But in a matter of minutes the Standard found four similar homes, including one in the same street. The most expensive cost £4,500 a month, £7,500 less than it costs taxpayers now, and has eight bedrooms.

Another had period features, a large, well-kept garden with terrace, and gold taps in the main bathroom. It cost £3,400 a month.

When shown details of the home, Mrs Saindi's 20-year-old son Jawad said: "There is no driveway, I need somewhere to park my car."

But when asked about one yards from their current home, he said: "It is huge. The lounge is a lot bigger and it looks nicer and has a driveway."

The student said the family wanted to live somewhere that was less of a burden to the taxpayer: "We support what people say, but it is not just us involved. There are three parties — us, our landlord and the council. If the council allows it, we will move."

In total Mrs Saindi, who fled Afghanistan seven years ago, gets £170,000 a year in benefits. She said she is not to blame. Mrs Saindi has already revealed she does not like the house because it is too big to clean.