Mum of four with autistic son faces being homeless and splitting up children as landlord sells house

A MUM-OF-FOUR with an autistic son faces being made homeless and splitting up her children as their landlord sells their home.

Single mum Beckie Searle, 39, has been told to move out of her rented house in Northfield, Birmingham, by November 8 – leaving her and her four kids stranded.

Beckie can't afford to rent privately meaning she and her children – 20-year-old Tyler, 15-year-old Jodie, eight-year-old Kaine and five-year-old Leyla – face waiting months for a council flat.

Kaine has autism and has been hit the hardest by the pressure the family is under, Beckie said.

Birmingham City Council said the "demand for housing in Birmingham is considerably greater than supply" – meaning countless families are being left in need of emergency homes.

Support worker Beckie told Birmingham Live: "The family will be split up as I will have to put them all up at different houses within our family. I need my autistic son settled.

"He is getting more aggressive than he usually is because of the situation.

"He doesn't like to leave his bedroom because he doesn't know if that will be the last time he will see it."

The council told Beckie there is a six-week before she is even able to bid for a house – and she can't afford the £1,700 per-month cost of renting a four-bed flat.

"I feel absolutely wounded by what's happened. It's just going to be a massive upheaval for everyone," she added.

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: "We are very sorry to hear that this family is being made homeless. Anyone being asked to leave a rented property should seek legal advice on what this means in terms of the circumstances under which they may need to leave."

The council advised looking at it's Help to Rent scheme for assistance with private tenancies.

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