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It's not an Ealing comedy it's a scandal

By John Hirst

It's not an Ealing comedy it's a scandal

Mother gets £170,000 a year in benefits to live in £1.2m house

I am shocked by the above headline. To be fair, I am not aware of all the details. For example, there is no mention of a man about the house such as a Mr Saindi, is Mrs Saindi a single mother? Apparently, she "came to the UK from Afghanistan seven years ago". But, there is no explanation why this is the case. Even allowing for circumstances, it does appear that there has been some abuse of the system. For example, the council paying the landlord double the amount for the property when other similar properties in the same area are going for half as much.

I live in a 3 bedroom house and the rent is £60 per week. In front of my house is a 5 bedroom property, which has been empty for about 2 years, and the landlord is seeking between £90-100 per week for it. In my view, this family could easily be accommodated in this property. That would save the taxpayers over a £1,000 per month just in rent allowance.

Two of the children are described as being 22 and 20 years of age. They are over the age of legal responsibility. They don't have to stay at home tied to their mother's apron strings. Had they been birds their mother would have kicked them out of the nest long before they became adults. Her son Jawad Saindi, 20, said "It's not that we wanted this big house - my mum is not happy because she has to clean all of it". I am surprised she does not at least pay for a part-time cleaner from the amount of state benefit she is receiving. And what about the 20 year old son, has he not thought about helping her keep the house clean, and the same goes for the 22 year old? Where is Alf Garnett when you need him?

So, landlord Ajit Panesar finds out the maximum the council is prepared to pay and fixes his price accordingly. I had to fight the Rent Services and council to get the full £60 per week, initially they would only pay £55. I suppose it is no surprise that one of the council housing officers is called Salma Khan. What with Mrs Saindi, the landlord Ajit Panesar, and housing officer Salma Khan, it's beginning to sound a bit like the Muslim Mafia in a remake of The Sting.

I will have to think about whether Council workers sacked over giving mother £170,000 a year in benefits is justified or whether it is a case of unfair dismissal. Whilst their decision is questionable, to say the least, it does appear as though the system has allowed abuse to take place and it might just be that they are scapegoats.

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on October 09, 2008 (boomark / email).