LIFE'S hard enough for single mum Toni Furniss and her eight kids, crammed into a rundown, three-bedroom Sheffield council house.
But the 31-year-old feared her family will have to continue living in squalor after their home was missed out of this year's Decent Homes refurbishment programme – because a surveyor forgot to call to assess what work was required.
Toni's neighbours are having work done at their houses but she was told her home on Hunshelf Road, Chapeltown, would not be revamped until the 2009/10 financial year.
Toni said: "I was told I would get new windows – to replace ones which are rotting – and a new kitchen and bathroom. The current bathroom's disgraceful – there aren't even any taps on the bath so we have to wash under the shower. There's also broken tiles on the floor."
Toni lives with children Gemma, 15, Ricky, 14, Callum, 11, Ryan, 10, Caitlin, eight, Jay, four, Ellie, two, and Crystal, eight months.
The mum, who sleeps in the smallest room with her youngest in a cot, said: "The reason for Sheffield Homes missing me out is the surveyor had an appointment to come and look at my property but never attended. I feel very badly treated. It's tough enough with so many of us here and I can't believe we're going to have to put up with the poor condition of the house for another year."
After her plight was raised by The Star, housing management company Sheffield Homes has agreed to bring work forward at Toni's home so she does not have to endure another year of misery.
Simon Senior, of Sheffield Homes, said: "We have requested our contractor Keepmoat to survey the property within the next two weeks and work will start as soon as possible.
"We are successfully carrying out work to thousands of properties in Sheffield and aim to ensure every customer is satisfied.
"We will work closely with Keepmoat to ensure that Ms Furniss receives her home improvements as quickly as possible, to her highest satisfaction."
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