Former senior nurse Liz Kovacs alleges that Ealing Council threatened to remove her from its housing register unless she accepted a property that, she claims, shows signs of water leaks and a broken guttering system. 

The 51-year-old woman is dissatisfied with the two-bedroom house assigned to her and her son. She "reluctantly" agreed to it under pressure after rejecting another council house.  

Ms Kovacs, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2021, asserts that she was informed it was her last chance to get a new home from the council. Consequently, she has asked the council to reevaluate whether the property meets her requirements. 

An Ealing Council spokesperson says the review will be carried out by an officer who was independent from the initial decision-making process to offer the home as being suitable.  

A report, carried out by occupational therapist, Penny West, who joined Ms Kovacs on the house viewing, backs up her reservations with the therapist stating the home "does not meet Ms Kovacs' physical or psychological needs." 

Ms Kovacs said she begged the council: "Just give me a two-bedroom bungalow. It can't be that hard, there are millions of empty flats in Ealing."  

During the viewing Ms Kovacs says floorboards in the bedroom were 'rotting' and claims the officer showing her around the home told her the removal and replacement of flooring would be her responsibility.  

Rotting floorbaords in one of the flat's rooms shown to Ms Kovacs by Ealing (image courtesy of Erzsebet Kovacs).

This is backed up in the independent report which states: "The bedroom floors still have staining on the floorboards from previous leakages, which was somewhat off-putting for Ms Kovacs.  

The report continued: "She was told by the housing officer showing us the property that tenants are responsible for the flooring."  

According to Householdquotes, replacing several floorboards and a floor joist costs between £300 to £450. 

Ms Kovacs said: "[The floorboards were] rotting because the roof was leaking. In the bathroom and in the two bedrooms it was the same."  

The report, conducted by the occupational therapist highlights a raft of issues with the property which she states will make it unsuitable for Ms Kovacs and her condition. 

Ms Kovacs' cancer has spread to her spine making mobility extremely difficult for her, which the report concludes will be made troublesome by the narrow staircase and the poorly maintained stairlift provided. 

The report reflects Ms Kovacs' concerns, saying she will need separate wheelchairs for each floor of the house the council has assigned her.  

""I'm very scared. It's very hard to think about how I just have a short time to live and I'm having to fight to live somewhere."

She said: "What is going to happen when I'm dying, like, really dying, like I physically can't stand up? Sometimes the pain is already too much. My son needs to take me to the toilet at night time because I can't walk." 

She added: "I'm very scared. It's very hard to think about how I just have a short time to live and I'm having to fight to live somewhere. I'm very stressed inside and obviously it's not helping my cancer because the more stressed I am the more pain I feel. Why don't the council just give me what I need?" 

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Ms. Kovacs expressed distress about spending her final two years in the house, citing inadequate room size for her bed, medical equipment, and a nurse's assistance. She is also concerned about the limited space for her son and carer, Michael. 

However, Ms Kovacs claims it became clear to her that the council was going to remove her from its housing allocation portal if she didn't accept the property, she says she felt she didn't have a choice and that private renting is unaffordable for her.  

Ms Kovacs' financial situation is made clear by the therapist's report which states: "Ms Kovacs is currently in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) based on her terminal illness. She has no savings as she spent all her savings on her care. Her Personal Independence Payments are paid to Ealing Council for her care." 

Ms Kovacs has set up a GoFundMe to help with the specialised care she requires to help ease her pain and extend her life because current NHS treatments are giving her severe side effects. 

She also needs a new house because her existing home in Acton's Jerome Tower is due to be demolished to make way for a new development. She was handed a Notice to Quit on August 1 and has been given a deadline to leave her home by Tuesday, August 29. 

Ealing Council's response

The Ealing Council spokesperson said: "Ms Kovacs has now accepted the property offered which has been determined to be suitable for her needs. Although she has accepted the offer, Ms Kovacs has requested the council review its decision on whether the property is suitable and meets her housing need. 

"That is her right, and the review will be carried out by the Review Officer, who is independent of the initial decision-making. Whilst the council is pleased that efforts have led to a resolution, it strongly refutes the claims (regarding whether Ms Kovacs will be made to pay for repairs herself).  

"Throughout, the council has been sympathetic to the difficult circumstances Ms Kovacs is facing, and our housing team has worked diligently to rehouse Ms Kovacs and her son." 

The spokesperson added Ms Kovacs was given Band A medical priority on the housing register due to her diagnoses. Her son, as her primary carer, is included in this as part of her household. 

"Ms Kovacs bid on and was offered suitable two-bedroom properties adapted to her needs. However, she rejected them. The property which Ms Kovacs has now accepted as being suitable is a two-bedroom house. When she viewed it, it was empty and awaiting improvement works," they said. 

"It is standard for residents to view a void property in the knowledge that the council will complete any outstanding repairs before a tenancy agreement is signed. At no point would Ms Kovacs have been told she would have to do repairs herself. 

"With regard to Ms Kovacs' current housing situation, Ms Kovacs is a private tenant in Jerome Tower and while she was previously offered temporary accommodation better suited to her needs, she elected to remain in her home until a longer-term solution was found. The council is pleased that a satisfactory resolution has been found, and that Ms Kovacs and her son have a safe, secure home adapted to her needs.  

"The council is clear in that it has fully complied with its legal responsibilities."