A COUNCIL tenant returned from a family visit abroad to find the locks of his home changed and his furniture gone.
Afghan-born Abdul Khalid Nadir Ali, aged 38, who has lived in the UK since 2004, was unable to get in to his flat in Burlington Road, Aston, when he arrived back from a night flight leaving him with nowhere to go.
He said he had gone back to Pakistan to see his family for 13 weeks and claimed he had informed the neighbourhood office before the trip and was given a print out confirming the arrangement.
The print out shows he went to the office at 2.57pm on January 14, requesting absence for 13 weeks.
He then left the UK on January 21 and returned on April 17 but Birmingham City Council says it was unable to contact him for five months.
After ten days sleeping rough Mr Ali was given the key but his furniture including a bed, sofa, cooker, fridge and TV have been removed and sold by the council leaving him with an empty flat.
He said: “I am so upset. I was very happy when I got my flat but then I had to go back home to see my family. I was worried about losing my flat so I went to the city council and told them I was going away and they said okay and they gave me a print out.
“When I came back I couldn’t get in the flat, the locks had been changed. It was late so I had to sleep on the streets. I tried to explain but it took ten days for them to give me the key. They have taken all of my furniture, the TV, carpet, cooker, bed, everything has gone.”
Mr Ali came to the UK in 2004 hoping to find a better life. He was given help by David Jones from Washington Court hostel in the city centre to get back on his feet after being homeless.
Mr Jones said: “He came here to start afresh and we had done well with him. Going back to March, I got him council flat and helped him apply for a community care grant to furnish the property.
“He went to the neighbourhood office and told them he was going to Pakistan for 13 weeks which they are allowed to do. They give him a print out, which I have got a copy of.
“They gave him a compensation form but what use is that?
“He is still sleeping on the floor two months on. I have written to the council expressing my disgust and have had no reply.”
A city council spokesman said: “As part of their tenancy agreement tenants are required to advise the council of their intention to go away for extended periods. Unfortunately, Mr Ali did not do this so his property was treated as abandoned after a period of five months.
“During that time, many efforts were made to contact him. As soon as we were made aware of his situation and of his return from abroad, the tenancy was immediately re-instated. We are considering Mr Ali’s compensation claim for the loss of his possessions and apologise for the distress he has suffered.”
