A South London family living in overcrowded conditions with two severely autistic children is taking their local council to the High Court after claiming they were moved further down an emergency housing waiting list.
Family challenges council's waiting list management
Carmen Castro Guallichico and her family will challenge Southwark Council at the High Court on Tuesday, June 23, arguing that the council acted unlawfully and ignored their waiting time for emergency housing. Carmen claims her position on the council's direct offer waiting list for social housing actually went backwards over a six-month period. When her lawyer approached the council for an explanation, they say none was provided.
Earlier this year, the High Court granted a judicial review of the case. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Carmen said: "I want to represent the voices of families and want to be heard. A lot of families are living in conditions similar to mine, and the council is playing with those families' and our children's futures."
Alleged backward movement on waiting list
Carmen claims that in January 2025, she was in 19th position for a four-bedroom home and 10th in line for a five-bed home. By July 2025, she allegedly moved down to 30th for a four-bed home and 16th for a five-bed home. The family was placed in Band 1 and on the direct offer waiting list in 2024 following previous legal action, after the council accepted their exceptional housing needs due to the children's autism.
Carmen added: "I want to fight until the end for my own family and to help and show a reality that the council is avoiding. I want to support those other families and ensure their voices are heard by the council to say 'we are here, we are still existing and we are super alarmed with the treatment you are providing to those families'."
Overcrowded conditions take toll on health
Carmen, her husband, and their four children currently live in a two-bedroom private property in Southwark. The cramped conditions are severely affecting the mental and physical health of each family member. The two youngest sons have severe autism and need separate spaces to regulate their emotions. They play on the stairs and in one bedroom because there is nowhere else to go. If any of their possessions are moved from the stairs, it can trigger a crisis.
Carmen said: "We are a family of six, but none of us have any privacy. My oldest son always complains that his young autistic brothers make too much noise. He is a university student, but for his exams, he has to go to the library to study. He can't do it at home because of this situation." She added: "My husband and I are under a lot of stress, and it is affecting our health to the point that our hair is falling out. These housing conditions also put lots of strain on our relationship and on the whole family."
Campaign group accuses council of 'fake waiting list'
Housing campaign group Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) has accused the council of operating a "fake waiting list." Elizabeth Wyatt, a member of HASL, said: "It's hard to imagine how agonising it is for the family to be trapped in such cramped, harmful housing for so many years. On top of this, Carmen is faced with the heart-breaking reality that she is falling down this scam direct offer waiting list." Wyatt added: "As soon as we realised Carmen's position on the waiting list was getting lower instead of higher, we knew the council had tricked her - we're happy that the High Court has agreed that her case needs to be heard."
Council response
Councillor Reginald Popoola, Executive Member for Council Homes at Southwark Council, said: "We recognise that this case has been raised; however, it would not be appropriate to comment on individual circumstances. There are over 20,000 households on the housing waiting list in Southwark. Applications are assessed using a priority banding system, based on identified housing need, and are matched to suitable properties in line with applicants' requirements." He added that the council continues to build genuinely affordable homes to help tackle the housing crisis.
