A woman who was made intentionally homeless by Newham Council has won the right to appeal their decision.

Newham Recorder: Campaigners from Focus E15, the housing group, outside court on the morning of Sara's appeal. Picture: Harry TaylorCampaigners from Focus E15, the housing group, outside court on the morning of Sara's appeal. Picture: Harry Taylor (Image: Archant)

Sara Abdalla, 30, rejected an offer from Newham Council to move her to Birmingham, which would have seen her forced to quit her job and uproot her son from school.

Because she rejected the offer, the council made her intentionally homeless. Sara appealed the decision twice, but was rejected, firstly because she didn’t have enough information about her employment, and then because her appeal was too late.

At London’s County Court this morning, Sara won the right to appeal the decision.

Sara moved to the UK from Yemen when she was 18 to live with her father. She lived in the family home until 2017, when she was moved by Newham Council to Brimstone House in Stratford.

In September, the mum of two was offered a temporary home in Birmingham, which she rejected. With the help of Focus E15, a housing campaign group, she has been allowed to stay in Brimstone House, but the council have declared her intentionally homeless and stopped her rent account.

Newham Council are yet to respond to the court’s decision.

More to follow.