PARENTS have spoken of their fury after a housing association took their son's buggy away and charged £10 for its return.

Hassan Aboulrahman, 42, lives in a third-floor flat in Maybush, Southampton, with his 22-year-old wife Norman.

The couple leave their one-year-old son's buggy outside the flat but it was taken away by housing association Abri for being a fire hazard.

The couple said it has never previously been an issue. Hassan has lived there since 2008.

But one week a removal notice was put on the buggy - and it was gone the next.

Hassan said: “It’s not good. They could have knocked but they took it without telling us right before.

"They know our flat is small and we cannot have the buggy inside. It was not in the way and we need the buggy back.”

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Norman is pregnant and the family is now looking to move into council housing.

Hassan said living on the third floor without a lift is “dangerous” for his wife.

He said: “My wife needs me to help her come up and down the stairs.

"I am the only one working and leaving the buggy in our small flat is dangerous with our son climbing over it.

“Honestly I hate it here. There is no space for our child to move around and it's not a safe space.    

“We want to move to Eastleigh, but the council housing said we have no local connections there to apply.

"I work in and around Southampton and Eastleigh as an Uber driver.” 

The family paid a £10 fee for the buggy's return.

Furious Norman said she was angered by the removal of her son's buggy.

She told the Daily Echo: “I’m 23 weeks pregnant now. I’ve been living here for about two years and it has never been an issue until our neighbour moved out.  

"I just went outside and it was gone. My son when we go on walks gets tired and asks for his buggy. 

"He has only just started walking and wants his pushchair.”   

Jim Bruckel, Head of Customer Partnership at Abri said: “Customer safety is always our priority and we work with fire authorities to follow the latest fire safety guidelines.

"We understand it’s frustrating to have personal items removed and we only do this as a last resort.

"While a buggy might not seem like an obvious fire risk, it’s really important to keep communal areas clear of any trip hazards or combustible items."

Abri said it will arrange the return of the buggy.

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