The family of a boy with leukaemia who shares a bedroom with his two sisters were shocked to be told they were not suitable for rehousing.

Adam Dennis,31, and his wife Madeleine,35, applied to be rehoused but were stunned when Watford Borough Council judged them only as Band D, a "household with no other housing need but interested in affordable social housing".

The council has acknowledged the situation and promised to review its decision after the family launched an appeal.

The family currently live in a two bed maisonette flat in Caractacus Cottage View, near Watford General Hospital.

Hillingdon Times:

Son Seth, 3, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in June 2017, currently shares with sisters Charlotte, 12, and Lucy, 10.

Charity Leukaemia Care has written to tell the council that sharing is having a “detrimental effect” not only on Seth’s health but his sisters’ as well.

Seth undergoes chemotherapy at home and is visited by a nurse once a week.

Mrs Dennis, who was forced to give up work to care for her son full time, said: “When Seth was diagnosed, it turned our world upside down. We have been in and out of hospital - Seth spent a month at Great Ormond Street (GOSH).

“We desperately need an extra room and we can’t understand the housing band that has been given to us. Our medical needs have not been taken into consideration.”

The family applied for rehousing in February and were notified in April of their status. They have since appealed the decision, which is under review. They want to be classed as a household with a high priority to move (Band B).

In a letter to the council, Leukaemia Care stressed the need for Seth to be close to hospital.

It read: “The area of search is small due to the nature of Seth’s cancer. The family must be within 15 minutes of a hospital if an emergency occurs. Seth is neutropenic, leaving him at greater risk of infection, and sharing a room leaves him much more prone to picking up an infection.”

Hillingdon Times:

Seth’s father Adam added: “This is a low status despite numerous letters from GOSH and Leukaemia Care. We feel let down by the council. We aren’t trying to force our way to the front of the queue but we are simply questioning how sick a child must be to be classed as sick enough.”

The family applied to move into a three-bed house near Westfield Academy but believe they have been unsuccessful, because of their banding.

Watford Borough Council says it is in the process of reviewing the Dennis’ situation.

Head of housing Ayaz Maqsood said: “We deeply sympathise with any family going through such difficult and terrible times. Because of the circumstances we are speeding up the review process and hope to come back to the family very soon. But sadly we have many other families in similar situations, with very sick children and family members, who have been waiting far longer than the Dennis family, who joined the housing register around two months ago.

"The housing crisis facing the UK is taking its toll in every part of the country, including Watford. 

“Over the whole of last year only 37 homes with three bedrooms became available for families in Watford, simply because the housing is not there. And of those 37, only five were in West Watford, where the family is keen to stay.

"Throughout the review and after it, we will continue to support the family in every way we can."