A Pakistani asylum-seeker family placed in a £250,000 new-build home say they are desperate to move, claiming they no longer feel safe living in a village in Shropshire.
40-year-old Muhammad Nadeem came to Britain with his wife, Shamaila, and their four children two years ago. The family had been living in Stockport, where Mr Nadeem worked as an Uber driver after securing a work visa.
After his visa expired, the family applied for asylum. They were first housed in a hotel before being relocated to a four-bedroom house in Stoke Heath around two weeks ago.
“We’re scared to stay in this house. We hate living here,” Shamaila said.
Mr Nadeem said the problems started soon after they arrived.
“My wife and children were outside when three people came towards us. We rushed inside and I locked the door,” he claimed.
He said a few hours later, two more people came to the property, one allegedly wearing a mask. After he answered the door, he claimed they began filming him on a mobile phone.
“They walked off and started shouting what sounded like abuse,” he added.
The incidents were reportedly raised with Serco, the company managing the accommodation, which has since introduced 24-hour security patrols in the area.
Mr Nadeem also said living in such a rural area has made daily life much harder.
“This place is no good for us. It’s too isolated. I have diabetes and back pain,” he said.
He explained that even basic shopping has become expensive, with the nearest supermarket requiring a £20 return taxi fare — a significant chunk of the £295 weekly allowance provided by the Home Office for the family.
“If our bread runs out, what am I supposed to do? Most of our money goes on taxis,” he said.
He also said he no longer lets his children play outside because he fears they could be threatened or abused.
“My kids ask, ‘Father, can we go outside and play?’ But I don’t allow it because I’m scared something could happen to them,” he said.
Police have reportedly given the family personal attack alarms due to poor mobile phone signal in the area.
A Home Office spokesperson told GB News that new-build properties should not be used to house asylum seekers.
Earlier this year, the Home Secretary introduced stricter rules to ensure developments like Stoke Heath would not be used again.
The Stoke Heath development, which predates guidance introduced by Shabana Mahmood, includes 21 homes intended to accommodate around 83 asylum seekers.
The homes were originally meant for social housing before being purchased by Serco.
On Monday, Conservative MP Mark Pritchard called on Immigration Minister Alex Norris to meet with him over the development, warning of growing public concern.
“People are being kept in the dark. There’s been secrecy, no consultation and no transparency. People deserve to know what is happening,” he told the Commons.
Mr Norris said he was aware of the issue and agreed to discuss it further with the Tory MP.
The Government has pledged to phase out asylum hotels before the next general election by increasing the use of dispersed housing and former military sites.
Ministers have also proposed making asylum seekers who find work contribute up to £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation.
