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| Norwich couple living in their car for seven months get keys to house | Norwich couple living in their car for seven months get keys to house |
| (4 months later) | |
| Aram Sarbir and his wife Shahla Qadir had been living in their car for seven months | Aram Sarbir and his wife Shahla Qadir had been living in their car for seven months |
| A couple who said they had no alternative but to live in their car for about seven months have been handed the keys to a council house. | A couple who said they had no alternative but to live in their car for about seven months have been handed the keys to a council house. |
| Aram Sarbir, 47 and his wife Shahla Qadir, 28, had been promised a house by Norwich City Council in March, but it was not yet ready. | Aram Sarbir, 47 and his wife Shahla Qadir, 28, had been promised a house by Norwich City Council in March, but it was not yet ready. |
| They slept in their Ford Mondeo and at times on friends' sofas while they waited for the property. | They slept in their Ford Mondeo and at times on friends' sofas while they waited for the property. |
| Mr Sarbir said they got the keys and signed the paperwork on Friday. | Mr Sarbir said they got the keys and signed the paperwork on Friday. |
| The Labour-run council was contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, but declined to comment. | The Labour-run council was contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, but declined to comment. |
| Mr Sarbir said: "If we hadn't had help [from the media] I don't think we would have got it so soon. It was a long time we were waiting. | Mr Sarbir said: "If we hadn't had help [from the media] I don't think we would have got it so soon. It was a long time we were waiting. |
| "I'm painting the bedroom and the living room now with help from my friend. | "I'm painting the bedroom and the living room now with help from my friend. |
| "My wife is so happy now and my daughter [from a previous relationship] will finally be able to come and stay with me." | "My wife is so happy now and my daughter [from a previous relationship] will finally be able to come and stay with me." |
| Help house 10,000 Afghans, minister tells councils | Help house 10,000 Afghans, minister tells councils |
| Hundreds of council homes empty as thousands wait | Hundreds of council homes empty as thousands wait |
| Authority to spend £3.8m on homes repair | Authority to spend £3.8m on homes repair |
| Jamie Osborn, from the Green Party on the council, who raised the couple's predicament with council officers, said he was pleased for the couple. | Jamie Osborn, from the Green Party on the council, who raised the couple's predicament with council officers, said he was pleased for the couple. |
| However, he said it was "unacceptable that it has taken seven months for the city council to hand over the keys after they promised to house this family". | However, he said it was "unacceptable that it has taken seven months for the city council to hand over the keys after they promised to house this family". |
| The council previously admitted that delays in dealing with its backlog of repairs were "unacceptable". | The council previously admitted that delays in dealing with its backlog of repairs were "unacceptable". |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | |
| Norwich City Council | |
| Social housing | |
| Norwich |
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