Migrant family demand move after saying £250k new-build say house is ‘no good

A migrant family have demanded to be moved from a £250,000 new-build home after claiming they have been left fearing for their safety and struggling with life in a rural village. Muhammad Nadeem, 40, his wife Shamaila and their four children were moved into a four-bedroom property in Stoke Heath, Shropshire, around a fortnight ago after previously staying in asylum hotel accommodation.

The family claim they no longer feel safe at the property, with Mr Nadeem alleging they were confronted by strangers within hours of arriving. The accommodation provider is believed to have introduced round-the-clock security patrols in the area.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Shamaila said: "We are scared to stay in this house. We hate it here."

Mr Nadeem claimed his wife and children were outside the property when three people approached them shortly after they moved in.

Mr Nadeem said: "My wife and our kids were outside the house when three people came towards us. We quickly went inside and I locked the door."

He alleged that later the same day two more people came to the house, one of them wearing a mask, before filming him on a mobile phone after he answered the door.

He claimed: "They walked away and they started shouting what sounded like abuse."

The incidents were reported to Serco, the private contractor responsible for managing the accommodation.

Mr Nadeem said he moved to Britain with his family from Pakistan two years ago and had been living in Stockport, where he worked as an Uber driver after obtaining a work visa.

After that visa expired, the family claimed asylum and were initially placed in hotel accommodation before being transferred to the Stoke Heath development.

He also criticised the property's isolated location, saying it has made everyday life difficult because of his health problems and the lack of nearby services.

Mr Nadeem said: "This is no good for us this place. It's too rural. I have diabetes and back pain."

He claimed the nearest supermarket requires a £20 return taxi journey, which he said consumes much of the family's reported £295 weekly Home Office allowance for a household of six.

Mr Nadeem added: "If my bread goes out of date, what do I do? Most of our money goes on taxis.

"My kids say, 'Father, can we go outside and play?', but I don't let them in case they are abused or threatened."

Police have reportedly provided the family with personal attack alarms because of poor mobile phone reception in the area.

The Stoke Heath development includes 21 homes expected to accommodate around 83 asylum seekers.The properties were originally earmarked for social housing before being acquired by Serco.

The scheme has become the focus of political criticism, with Conservative MP Mark Pritchard urging Immigration Minister Alex Norris to meet him over the development.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Pritchard said: "People are being kept in the dark. There has been secrecy - no consultation and no transparency. People have a right to know what is going on."

Mr Norris replied that he was "well aware" of the issue and agreed to meet the MP.

A Home Office spokesman said: "New houses should never house asylum seekers. Earlier this year, the Home Secretary introduced robust processes to ensure new-build sites like Stoke Heath can never be considered again."

The Government has pledged to end the use of asylum hotels before the next general election by increasing the use of dispersed accommodation and former military sites.