Outcry over jobless Somalis given another luxury home
A FAMILY of jobless Somalis has caused uproar after being handed the keys to a new £ 1.3million home at taxpayers’ expense.
Saeed Khaliif and his wife, who are believed to have eight children, moved into the semidetached London property after previously being put up in a £ 2million house.
Ukip accused the refugees, who have been in the UK for eight years, of “taking a ride out of a system designed primarily to help the most needy”.
A spokesman said: “Most people in this country after a lifetime of work couldn’t dream of living in such a property, so such a decision brings the entire system into disrepute.”
The home is a Victorian house in Cricklewood, north London.
Mr Khaliif, 53, caused uproar in 2011 when the family moved into one of the most expensive properties ever funded by housing benefit – a six- bedroom £ 2million house in fashionable West Hampstead with rent costing £ 2,000 a week.
They were rehoused following Government changes to housing benefit, capping the amount given to couples with children at £ 500 a week. Yesterday it emerged the rent on their new home is being heavily subsidised by the taxpayer. Camden Council sets rents as low as £ 150 a week.
Privately rented homes nearby can fetch £ 750 a week.
A family member yelled “Go away” from behind the front door of the smart property yesterday.
Later a man believed to be Mr Khaliif refused to speak as he left home and walked down the road.
New home for old… the renovated house in Cricklewood and, right, the old one in West Hampstead Mr Khaliif has not worked since he arrived in Britain in 2008, first being housed in a £ 1,000- a- month property in Coventry.
The family then wanted to move to London, despite having no links there. A former neighbour said they went to London “in search of richer pickings”.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said last night: “It’s disgusting. These people are not doing an ounce of work yet they are living in a beautiful house ordinary folk can only dream of.”
Neighbour Pedro Rodriguez said: “The council have given them a home of luxury and spent thousands renovating it before they moved in. It’s not right some people are given so much for free when others are struggling.” Dia Chakravarty, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The welfare system is meant to be a safety net for those struggling, not a comfort blanket. Hard- pressed families struggling with bills will be furious at such an extortionate amount spent on housing a single family in one of the most expensive areas in London.”
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “The benefits cap was introduced to end abuse of the system.”
Camden Council said: “Our council homes are allocated on a needs basis.” A council source said that two of the children have disabilities. Somali refugee Saeed Khaliif and his wife