We’ve been forced to live in a hotel with our one-year-old daughter for months…I’m terrified of DYING here
A DAD with severe asthma who has been forced to live in a hotel says he is terrified of dying.
Halmat Osman, who also suffers from sciatica, has been living in a Travelodge with his wife and one-year-old daughter for months.
The vulnerable dad, whose health conditions make him highly sensitive to chemical smells such as perfumes or cleaning products, says last week he collapsed in a lift after breathing in perfume, prompting a frantic call for an ambulance.
He said: “My wife and daughter were crying, they thought I was dead."
Halmat, who had previously rented privately for seven years, has been offered emergency accommodation at a Travelodge in Redcliffe, Bristol, by Bristol City Council.
He says he provided the housing team with a letter from a respiratory nurse specialist at Southmead Hospital but his warnings were ignored by the family's housing officer, he claims.
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Now Halmat is terrified he could die if the council continues to disregard his illness.
The letter from Southmead's respiratory specialist stated: “We are concerned about his poor asthma control and risk of hospitalisation.”
The nurse explained that due to his asthma and back pain, Halmat struggles with both the lift and the stairs, making it difficult for him to move around safely.
Despite this, the family has not been offered alternative accommodation.
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The father-of-one said: “We just want somewhere safe to live.
"I’m scared I might die here.”
“Any chemical smell impacts my breathing," he added.
The family’s situation is exacerbated by financial struggles.
Without a car, they must carry heavy bags of laundry to the nearest laundrette regularly, while the lack of cooking facilities forces them to rely on costly takeaways.
Their attempts to find a new privately-rented home have been unsuccessful, as they no longer meet the financial criteria required for properties in Bristol.
Halmat only recently learned he needed to register with Home Choice to bid for social housing, leaving them stuck in limbo.
The council’s health and housing team acknowledged in an email that Halmat is unable to use the steps due to “evidenced sciatica and severe eosinophilic asthma” but have yet to relocate them.
Bristol City Council has been contacted for comment.
What to do if you're made homeless
In England, your council must help if you’re legally homeless or will become homeless within the next 8 weeks.
You may be legally homeless if:
- you’ve no legal right to live in accommodation anywhere in the world
- you cannot get into your home, for example your landlord has locked you out
- it’s not reasonable to stay in your home, for example you’re at risk of violence or abuse
- you’re forced to live apart from your family or people you normally live with because there’s no suitable accommodation for you
- you’re living in very poor conditions such as overcrowding
There are different types of support your council could offer you. For example, they may offer you advice, emergency housing, support to find longer-term housing or help so you can stay in your home.
If you are looking for advice you can contacting housing charity Shelter for advice, Citizen Legal Advice for a legal aid, and speak to your local council for help.