They Ignored a Mother of Five for Eight Years—Until We Took Action
For eight years, the Abdulla family lived in a house riddled with black mould, rotting fixtures, and damp so severe it short-circuited their shower. The kitchen counters were falling apart, slugs crawled through the gaps, and water pooled on the bathroom floor. This wasn’t just neglect—it was a direct attack on their health and dignity. The landlord? Your Homes Newcastle (YHN), the social housing manger, who manages properties on behalf of Newcastle city council.
The family did everything a ‘good tenant’ is told to do. They reported the issues. They waited. They reported them again. Nothing changed. Eight years passed, and the five children were still breathing in black mould every day. It was clear: YHN would only act if they were forced to.
Direct Action Forced Their Hand
In December 2023, Food & Solidarity stepped in. We delivered a formal demand to YHN’s CEO, board members, and senior management: Fix the house. Compensate Hanan. Investigate the neglect. Then, when they missed our deadline, we marched on their offices.
YHN called the cops on us. They wanted to scare us off. It didn’t work. We weren’t leaving, and we weren’t backing down. When they saw that, they had no choice but to invite us back for a meeting. The repairs, which they had ignored for nearly a decade, were completed within weeks. And in every case we took on afterward where they were the Landlord, they suddenly responded at record speed.
What This Shows
This win wasn’t about politely requesting repairs. It wasn’t about ‘raising awareness.’ It was about pressure. Direct action. Risk. They didn’t fix Hanan’s house out of the kindness of their hearts—they did it because they knew we wouldn’t stop until they did.
And that’s exactly how we need to fight for housing justice. Not just for Hanan, but for every tenant trapped in a slumlord’s grip.
Join Us—Fight Back (Updated March 2025)
YHN is gone, but Newcastle City Council still mismanages thousands of homes. The fight isn’t over. If you’re sick of waiting for justice, join Food & Solidarity today. We don’t beg landlords and councils to do their jobs—we make them. Need help? fill in the form here
