Mansfield fire victim says 'I feel like we've been let down' as her family face eviction
A Mansfield family are facing the prospect of being homeless after being served an eviction notice from temporary accommodation provided when their home was heavily damaged by fire.
The fire which took place on January 28 at Natalie Martin’s home on Johnson Drive is still under police investigation, and the family’s current temporary property was funded by their insurance for a period of six months, which has now come to an end.
The owner of their temporary property, which is managed by Frank Innes, has now requested six months’ rent upfront to renew the lease, which is money the family simply do not have.
Natalie Martin, 44, has four of her children currently aged 16, 18, 19 and 20 living at home, two of which have additional needs, and was devastated to receive the eviction notice.
She said: “I’m at the end of my tether and I don’t know where to turn next.
"The current landlord is asking for 6 months’ rent to renew the lease – there are no other properties available that are within our budget and we don’t have almost £10,000 to pay for rent in advance – who does?
"The kids have been through so much emotionally since the fire and it’s devastating this is happening – I feel like we’ve been let down by the people who are meant to be helping us.”
The family were unharmed in the tragic fire, however their two dogs were overcome by the smoke and sadly passed away – one of which was a registered service dog for one of her daughters who suffers from anxiety.
Her youngest daughter is 16 and has excelled against the odds – managing to achieve an A, six B and a C grade in her exams.
Natalie continues: “The kids have been through so much, we really couldn’t believe she managed to get those grades.
“Samworth Academy were so supportive after the fire, they really helped her stay focused.
"We just really need to find a property – the prospect of being homeless after all this is just devastating.
“We aren’t high on priority lists due to my three boys being over 18, even though the older two have additional needs and require care.
"Joe is only just 18 and has just finished college and is now training to be a teaching assistant, so he can’t be expected to move out yet.”
The family urgently require a property in the vicinity of the Samworth Church Academy, where Natalie's daughter is continuing her studies.
Chief Inspector Natasha Todd said: “Nottinghamshire Police’s enquiries in this investigation are ongoing. Two people were arrested on suspicion of arson following the incident and have been released under investigation while these enquiries continue.
“We always aim to work as quickly as we can, because we appreciate the ongoing impact on victims while an investigation remains open.
"However, many cases are complex and we must balance the need for a quick resolution with the time constraints of a thorough investigation, which has more chance of succeeding when a case is put before the courts.”
Frank Innes have been approached for comment.