Pregnant mum 'exhausted' by temporary accommodation

A pregnant woman who has been moved to temporary accommodation in Kent due to supply issues where she lives in London said she was "exhausted" by her fight to secure housing.

Demi Worboys, aged 31, and her baby son have been living in Chatham for four months, after being relocated due to issues with anti-social behaviour at her former home in Bromley.

Worboys, who has been bidding for a home in Bromley for two years, said she was "in fear constantly", adding: "I feel very lonely, it's just me and my son without my support network and my family...I feel like they [Bromley Council] placed me here and forgot about me."

A spokesperson for Bromley Council said while it would "always seek to house residents locally", this was not always possible.

Worboys said she was moved to Chatham after a series of issues which ended in her having eggs thrown at her door after asking someone to stop smoking.

"They then basically threatened me with a knife and told me to get into my house," she said.

Worboys said she has had anxiety and depression due to the original problems in Bromley and the move to Chatham, away from her wider family.

"I can't attend scans due to my son not being allowed in...I've got no support network for someone to have him," she said.

Living in a "rat-infested" property with "clear signs of anti-social behaviour" has made the situation worse, Worboys said.

"I'm struggling to understand why they would place me somewhere similar to the traumatic experience that I've just encountered over a year ago," she said.

Medway Council did not comment on the condition of the Chatham property but said that "temporary accommodation placements from other areas and councils have a significant impact in Medway".

According to data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as of 30 June 2025 there were 5.3 households in temporary accommodation per 1,000 in Medway towns.

This is slightly below the England average of 5.4, and below the 8.4 households recorded in Dartford, the highest of Kent's local authorities.

While she is placed in Medway, the responsibility for ensuring Worboys has suitable housing remains with Bromley Council.

A Bromley Council spokesperson said: "We are continuing to engage with this resident about their housing situation, including with their housing provider, who has also recently visited to address outstanding concerns at their property.

"The council acted quickly to provide suitable temporary accommodation for our resident in this case, taking account of their circumstances, while we assess their housing situation."

The spokesperson for Medway Council added: "Out of area placements also reduce the number of homes for local residents to access, drives up housing costs and places additional strain on local services including schools and healthcare providers."

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