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@dicki
http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/former-asylum-seeker-on-benefits-given-2-million-house.html
The Telegraph reports. Abdi and Sayruq Nur, who fled war town Somalia, had been unhappy that their previous home also paid for by housing benefit was not convenient for shopping and meant their children had to get the bus to school.
Now in a move certain to anger taxpayers, the couple and their seven children have relocated to a five bedroom town house in Notting Hill, where they can count artist Lucian Freud and designer Stella McCartney among their neighbours.
The familys new home is thought to be one of the most expensive ever paid for by housing benefit and the revelation comes just a month after Ministers pledged to rein in Britains 20 billion a year housing benefit bill.
Mr Nur, 42, an unemployed bus conductor, arrived in Britain with his wife, who is now 40, in 1999 from Somalia and they were granted asylum.
The family were housed in a five bedroom property in the Kensal Rise area of Brent, at a cost to the taxpayer of 900 a week.
However last month Mr Nur declared he was unhappy with the property because it was in a very poor area and was not convenient for schools and shops.
He approached officials at the council informing them he had found a new home in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Under housing benefit rules anyone who is eligible can claim for a private property if it is suitable for their needs.
The familys new home, which is in one of the most sought after areas of London, has five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully fitted kitchen and a garden.
It is close to the attractions of Portobello Market and local celebrities in the area include pop star Damon Albarn, artist Lucian Freud and Sir Paul McCartneys fashion designer daughter Stella.
Mr Nur receives 2,000 per week from the council to cover the rent, which he then pays to the landlord, who is understood to be an associate of one of his friends.
According to local property sources before the Nur family moved in the house was being advertised for 1,050 a week.
The house is owned by a British Virgin Islands based company called Brophy Group Business Ltd, which bought it for 2.1 million in 2007.