An asylum-seeking family has expressed deep dissatisfaction with a £250,000 new-build home in Stoke Heath, Shropshire, to which they were relocated after their visas expired. Muhammad Nadeem, 40, his wife Shamaila, and their four children were moved from asylum hotel accommodation to a four-bedroom property in the rural village. The family says they desperately want to return to Stockport, where Mr Nadeem worked as an Uber driver before his visa expired.
Family reports intimidation and fear
Mr Nadeem described a hostile reception from locals shortly after moving in. He stated, 'My wife and our kids were outside the house when three people came towards us. We quickly went inside and I locked the door.' He added that masked individuals later knocked on the door while filming him. The incidents were reported to Serco, the contractor managing the accommodation, and security guards now patrol the estate. Mr Nadeem said, 'We left Pakistan because of threats to our family and now we have it here.' The family feels trapped indoors; his children ask to play outside, but he does not allow them for fear of abuse or threats.
Financial strain and lack of services
The family also struggles with the remote location, which is far from jobs, shops, and schools. The nearest GP and shops are miles away, forcing them to rely on expensive taxis. Mr Nadeem explained, 'The Home Office gives us £295 a week for six members. Most of our money goes on taxis.' Asylum seekers are generally banned from working while their claims are decided, unless they have waited over 12 months through no fault of their own, and even then, only for jobs on the shortage occupation list. Those in self-catered accommodation receive financial support for essential living costs.
Policy change after controversy
The Stoke Heath scheme is one of 21 recently built properties used to house asylum seekers as part of the Government's effort to phase out asylum hotels. The plan sparked opposition from residents who argued the homes should have been reserved for local families. The controversy led the Home Office to tighten its policy, stating that new-build housing developments should no longer be used for asylum accommodation and introducing measures to ensure similar schemes 'could never be considered again.'
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed the department has introduced 'robust processes' to prevent future such developments. Meanwhile, Shamaila Nadeem said, 'We are scared to stay in this house. We hate it here.'
