Asylum-Seeking Family Begs to Leave Brand-New Home After Just 15 Days Because of What They Experienced

An asylum-seeking family from Pakistan say they feel trapped after being moved into a newly built housing estate that has become known locally as “Migrant Street.” Although the family now live in a modern four-bedroom home worth around £250,000, they say they are unhappy, frightened, and desperate to return to the area where they were previously living.

Muhammad Nadeem, his wife Shamaila, and their four children arrived in the UK around two years ago after leaving Pakistan. According to Muhammad, they fled because of threats against their family and hoped to build a safer life in Britain. After arriving, they settled in Stockport, where Muhammad worked as an Uber driver on a work visa. When his visa expired, the family applied for asylum and were moved out of their rented home into temporary hotel accommodation while waiting for a decision on their application.

Just over two weeks ago, the family were relocated around 60 miles away to a new housing development in Stoke Heath, a small rural village. Their new home is one of 21 newly built properties that have been set aside to house around 83 asylum seekers as part of the Government’s plan to reduce the use of expensive asylum hotels and instead accommodate people in houses and former military sites.

While the property itself is modern and spacious, Muhammad says the location has made life much harder for his family. He believes the village is too isolated, with few nearby shops, services, or transport links, making everyday life extremely difficult.

He also claims the family faced intimidation almost immediately after arriving. Muhammad said the problems began the day after they moved into the house. According to him, while his wife and children were outside, three people approached them, forcing the family to rush back inside and lock the doors.

Later that same day, he said two more people came to the house. One of them was wearing a face covering and reportedly knocked on the door while filming him on a mobile phone. Muhammad said he asked them to leave, but as they walked away they allegedly shouted abuse toward the family.

The incidents were reported to Serco, the company responsible for managing asylum accommodation, and security guards have since been placed in the area to patrol the neighbourhood throughout the day and night. Despite the extra security, Muhammad says his family still does not feel safe.

He has contacted the Home Office asking to be moved back to Stockport, where they had already started building a life and had relatives and friends nearby.

Muhammad explained that the village’s remote location has created serious practical problems as well. He suffers from diabetes and ongoing back pain but says he has not yet been able to register with a local GP. He also pointed out that the nearest supermarkets are so far away that even buying basic food can become expensive because taxis are often the only option.

He said that if simple items like bread run out, a return taxi trip to the nearest supermarket can cost more than £20. With the family receiving around £295 a week to support six people, he says a large part of that money disappears on transport costs alone.

Muhammad believes the location is simply not suitable for families trying to rebuild their lives. He says it is too far from employment opportunities, schools, healthcare services and shops, making it difficult to become part of the local community.

The family say they spend most of their time indoors because they are afraid of what might happen if they go outside. Muhammad said his children regularly ask if they can play outdoors, but he often refuses because he fears they could face abuse or intimidation.

He said leaving Pakistan was supposed to give his family safety after experiencing threats there, but instead they now feel anxious even stepping outside their front door in Britain.

The poor mobile phone signal in the area has added to their concerns. Muhammad says police provided the family with personal emergency alarms that can be activated if they feel threatened. He said both he and one of his daughters now carry the alarms whenever necessary.

According to Muhammad, the stress has become so severe that he now sleeps in the front room near the front window each night so he can watch over the house. He admitted that he rarely gets proper sleep because he spends much of the night checking outside, worried that someone may approach the property again.

Despite everything they have experienced since arriving in the village, Muhammad insists that returning to Pakistan is not an option. He says his family left because of serious threats and fears for their safety, and they still believe the UK offers them a better chance of rebuilding their lives.

He also acknowledged that the newly built house could have been used by a local family waiting for social housing. He stressed that his family never asked to be placed there and simply wants to return to an area where they feel safe, can access services, and continue living as they had hoped before being relocated.