A single mother residing in a Westminster Council property finds herself at the centre of a devastating legal and financial nightmare, ordered to tear down decking she installed for her disabled son or face potential eviction.
The dispute began when the tenant, who wishes to remain anonymous, constructed the wooden decking in the communal garden area to create a safe and accessible outdoor space for her young son. The boy suffers from a rare medical condition that requires the use of a wheelchair and walking frame.
Instead of compassion, the council responded with a heavy hand, issuing a strict enforcement notice demanding the complete removal of the structure. They declared it an unauthorised development built without permission on council-owned land.
The mother's plight has now escalated to a critical point. She has been slapped with an eye-watering bill of approximately £18,000 to cover the council's legal fees and the cost of removal. With the threat of losing her home looming, she has been forced to launch a desperate fundraising campaign to fight the council's decision.
A Mother's Plea for Her Son
In an emotional appeal, the mother explained her reasoning: "The decking allows my son to play outside safely. The garden was unusable for him before; it was uneven and dangerous. This was never about defying the council; it was about giving my child a semblance of a normal childhood."
She asserts that she had verbally mentioned her plans to a housing officer, though the council maintains no formal application was ever submitted for the alteration.
Westminster Council's Stance
A spokesperson for Westminster City Council defended their position, stating: "While we are sympathetic to the family's circumstances, we have a legal obligation to manage our properties and communal spaces. Any permanent structures require formal permission to ensure they are safe, appropriate, and do not negatively impact other residents or the land."
The case has sparked outrage from housing advocacy groups and local residents, who accuse the council of bureaucratic bullying and a failure to consider the human element of the situation.
