A Croydon mother is pleading for the council to rehouse her family so they have space to care for her disabled daughter.

Davina Emmanuel, 35, delivered her daughter Aniyah by emergency caesarean section at 27 weeks, after a scan revealed she had preeclampsia, a condition which attacks the umbilical chord, restricting access to nutrients.

Aniyah has been kept in hospital since her birth in May, where she receives round the clock care in an incubator. She depends on a ventilator to breathe, having undergone a tracheostomy.

Your Local Guardian:

Aniyah soon after she was born

The family's Sanderstead home has just two bedrooms, one for Ms Emmanuel and the other for her two older daughters, aged 9 and 11, meaning unless the council offer them a new house, the only room with sufficient space for Aniyah's incubator will be the living room.

The council have placed the family on band two of the rehousing list, rather than band one, which would make them a priority.

"I’m bring treated unfairly and unjustly," Ms Emmanuel said.

"I've lived in my property for 5 years and never had any issues with anyone.

"So it's upsetting to be asking for help when I'm in need only to refused and given a poor explanation.

"All I want is to be put on band 1, as my situation justifies. I'm not asking for five bed house, just enough room to care for my daughter.

"I don't have any time for myself anymore; as soon as I drop my kids off to school I'm straight to the hospital.

"I feel emotionally drained."

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Davina's partner Darren with Aniyah and her other two daughters

The council initially told Ms Emmanuel she wouldn't need to be rehoused as her children are all the same sex.

An occupational therapist from Aniyah's hospital subsequently visited the family home to see if it was an appropriate place for her to receive care, judging that as a short term, three months fix, the incubator could be housed in the living room.

After seeing the therapist's report, the council agreed to place the family on band two of the social housing list which, according to the council website, is for "people with a reasonable preference who are working or training."

Ms Emmanuel claims the decision was based on the fact she is employed as an office administrator. Currently she is on maternity leave.

She argues, given Aniyah's complex medical needs, the family should have been placed on band one, which is for "people with severe medical or disability problems which make it difficult for them to manage in their homes."

People of band one are treated as a "high priority", whilst people on band two are treated as an "increased priority."

A spokesperson for Croydon Council said: “Our choice-based lettings service introduced last year gives our tenants the freedom to pick their next council home rather than wait for one to be allocated.

"They can choose the size, location and rent amount that suits them, and then our housing team will help them find the best fit to their needs.

"If tenants require extra help with navigating this process because of illness or other exceptional circumstances, we can provide this on request.”