PROTESTERS gathered outside Hackney Council today to demand urgent action after a family under the London authority’s care were “subjected to appalling conditions” in their temporary accommodation.

Eden, who is pregnant and only shared her first name, lives with her young daughter in a single room on the Woodberry Down estate. 

The flat is plagued by floor-to-ceiling black mould, repeated sewage flooding, and broken plumbing, forcing the family to use a bucket instead of a toilet.

Repeated electricity outages have left her without working electricity or a functioning kitchen. 

Eden said: “My daughter has asthma and we’re stuck living in just one room because so much of the flat is unliveable. 

“The mould is black, floor to ceiling, and it’s even growing in our food. They say they can’t treat it because I’m pregnant with twins.

“We’re constantly sick and in and out of hospital. It’s honestly been complete hell.”

The Woodberry Down estate, located in north Hackney, is undergoing a regeneration led by private developers. 

Campaigners say the new-build flats are being marketed for as much as £2,600 a month for a one-bedroom home

Rod O’Donnell of the London Renters Union, which organised the protest, said: “Woodbury Downs is sometimes described as a flagship project that other councils should emulate. 

“Labour promises that private developer-led house building can fix the housing crisis but for families like Eden’s, the result of handing these corporate giants power over our communities is dangerous disrepair and a complete lack of security.

“It’s clear that the regeneration of Woodberry Down is not being done in the interests of ordinary people, but to serve the profits of private developers.”

She called on Hackney Council to urgently take action for Eden and other tenants on the block.

Cllr Sade Etti, Cabinet member for homelessness prevention, rough sleeping and temporary accommodation, said: “We know the existing homes at Woodberry Down are ageing, don’t meet modern standards and are difficult to maintain. That’s why our regeneration plans are replacing these with modern, high-quality and genuinely affordable social rented homes for the hundreds of permanent Council tenants living on the estate – complementing our ambitious programme of new Council homes across Hackney.

“Sadly, the severity of Hackney’s housing crisis means that thousands more people still face a long wait for a permanent home. Using empty properties  scheduled for demolition as temporary accommodation is not ideal, but with a huge housing shortage it is one of the ways that families without a home can remain in Hackney and around their supporting network until they can move to a permanent home.

“I understand Eden’s concerns about the condition of the home, and am arranging to meet with her to discuss her situation as we continue to work to resolve these issues and secure the family a suitable long-term place to live.”