A WOMAN has criticised a district council for moving her into a property which she says is like a building site . Tracey Daley says North Herts district council is forcing her to move into the house in North Close, Royston, which has no hot water, centra

A WOMAN has criticised a district council for moving her into a property which she says is "like a building site".

Tracey Daley says North Herts district council is forcing her to move into the house in North Close, Royston, which has no hot water, central heating, or kitchen appliances. The property is also missing several windowsills and door frames.

She has been living in Ridgeway Hostel in Royston since coming out of hospital after a lung transplant, but has now been offered the choice of taking the North Close house or being made homeless.

She said: "It's totally unacceptable; when I first saw the house I couldn't believe it. It's just like a building site.

"How can they expect people to live like this? I didn't even bid for this house, and now I'm told I have to move in or lose my place on the housing list and be left out on the streets."

Miss Daley had been in hospital for several months after suffering from pneumonia and having the transplant.

"Because of the operation I've had I need to bathe three times a day, and this doesn't even have a bath or hot water," she said.

"I'm still on medication and being in this house is going to be detrimental to my health, I don't know what I am going to do."

The property belongs to housing association North Herts Homes, but allocation of places to homeless people is dealt with by the district council.

A spokesman for the council said they were unable to discuss the circumstances of individual cases.

He said: "When the Council accepts a household under homelessness legislation, and they have not secured permanent accommodation through the Choice Based Lettings system after six months, it may appropriate to directly offer the household accommodation. This is to ensure the homeless household is resettled in a timely manner.

"When a household is directly offered, all of their accommodation needs are taken into account, including any medical requirements.

"Should the property be refused, the Council may end its duty under homelessness legislation. The household would then be required to arrange their own accommodation."

The spokesman added that vacant properties provided by housing associations are all inspected to ensure that they meet the required standards before letting.

"Sometimes the properties need decorating and a voucher is issued to the new tenant to help them with this," he said.