Mum 'heartbroken' after contractor binned pushchair

A mother of four on maternity leave says she is heartbroken after a contractor threw her rented double pushchair into a skip.

Ocean, from West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire, left the pram in the communal area of her block of flats on Tuesday, but it was taken away because of fire-safety regulations.

The 31-year-old sales assistant, who gave birth to her second son eight weeks ago, said she could be liable for a bill of more than £1,000 to the company she was renting the pushchair from.

Housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) apologised for the mistake and said it would reimburse the family.

MTVH added that the pushchair was removed "in the interest of fire safety" as it had been placed in a communal area.

"It should not have been removed without notice being given to the residents," it said.

Ocean paid a monthly subscription to rent the two-seater stroller - worth between £1,500-£2,000 - from an online company for about £50 a month.

The buggy was left in a communal area on the ground floor of her first‑floor flat in Wenlock Drive.

When she discovered it had gone, Ocean, who does not drive, said she was heartbroken and could not stop crying.

"That might sound pathetic to most people, but when you've got children and you feel like you can't leave the house or go anywhere, it's devastating," she added.

"Because I live in a first-floor flat, I can't lift a double pushchair, a toddler and a newborn up the stairs.

"I try and take the newborn and my toddler both upstairs at the same time and leave the pushchair in the communal.

"On this occasion, when I went back out, the pushchair was gone."

She initially thought the buggy had been stolen and contacted police. She also posted on social media to check if anyone was trying to offer it for sale.

The following day, she said she was called by MTVH and informed that a fire-safety contractor had removed the double buggy because it was deemed to be a breach of fire-safety regulations.

Ocean said she struggled to leave her two‑bedroom flat, in a four‑storey block, with both children when she did not have a pushchair.

"I can't do simple things like walk to the shop," she added.

She said she was worried about the "financial burden" because she did not own the pushchair.

MTVH said it had spoken with the residents to apologise and was arranging a replacement pushchair, as well as reimbursing the costs the family had incurred as a result of this mistake.

"As a not-for-profit housing association, our priority is for residents to live safely and well in their homes," it added.

Ocean said she was pleased with the association's response, but would still be out of pocket until the issue was resolved.

"I can't fault them there, but it's going to be a long journey to try and get compensation for this.

"I've lived here for nine years, and I've had multiple pushchairs in the same place and nothing has happened.

"Maybe there is a bigger issue here, maybe they need to really rethink where they are housing people."

A Rushcliffe Borough Council spokesperson said: "The council's role in these properties is limited, as day-to-day management and enforcement of communal areas remains with the landlord."

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