A HEAVILY-pregnant woman living in a tiny garden cabin is terrified after her council said they wouldn't give her a flat until she's "in LABOUR".

       Caitlin Rawlinson, 20, is set to give birth in a matter of weeks - but her pleas to the housing authority to move her out of her "freezing" log cabin have fallen on deaf ears.

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       The mum-to-be, said she's under so much stress because the council have done 'nothing' to help her Credit: Caitlin Rawlinson 6

       The 20-year-old lives in the garden cabin and claims her housing officer would only move her into a council flat when she's in labour Credit: CAITLiN RAWLINSON

       The mum-to-be was forced to move back in with her parents in Esher, Surrey, after her rented flat fell through during lockdown.

       And because of the lack of space in the family home, she had to move into the tiny log cabin at the end of their garden.

       But when she fell pregnant, the 20-year-old contacted Elmbridge Council straight away to get a housing assessment - where THEY deemed the cabin "not suitable" for a newborn baby.

       Because the accommodation isn't heated or insulated and doesn't have somewhere for the baby to bath, she said the council promised to move her "promptly".

       But almost eight months later, heavily-pregnant Caitlin is still stuck in the "freezing" conditions and cries nearly every day over the housing horror.

       She also claimed that her housing officer said he would find her a place to live when she is in LABOUR - and not before.

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       Speaking about the nightmare, Caitlin told The Sun Online: "I was staying in the log cabin in my parents' garden after lockdown, and then I found out I was pregnant.

       "I contacted the council for housing help, because obviously I can't have a baby in a log cabin. This was in the summertime when I first found out, I was about 10 weeks pregnant.

       "The council did a health assessment of the log cabin at the time and they said it wasn't suitable because there is no central heating, there's nowhere to bathe the baby, and it's not insulated.

       "They said they were going to move me promptly, and obviously they haven't. I've had to spend an entire winter in a freezing cold cabin.

       "I'm now 35 weeks pregnant, I'm heavily pregnant, I can't move around that much, and I've got no heating, so I'm sleeping in very cold conditions."

       Caitlin is also enduring high-risk pregnancy and she fears that she could be induced at any moment - and she won't have a proper home to bring her baby to.

       And despite calling the council "in tears" every week for the last eight months, Caitlin now faces bringing her newborn home to the garden cabin.

       'IN TEARS'

       Caitlin said she's at her "wit's end" as she doesn't have the space to build her baby's cot or pram - as she feels completely ignored by the council.

       When contacted by The Sun Online, the council said they would prioritise Ms Rawlinson for temporary accommodation - but she wouldn't be offered a council let.

       Caitlin added: "When I emailed my housing officer, he said it was fine because he said 'when you're in labour we'll find you somewhere to live.'

       "It's not very reassuring. When I'm in the hospital in active labour, screaming my head off, he wants me to just give him a phone call and he will pull this flat out of nowhere?

       "Why can't they find me one now so I can set up my baby a cot.

       "They've done essentially nothing for the last eight months, even though I'm calling them every week in tears."

       Caitlin's mum and her midwife have tried to help the 20-year-old as much as they can - but they're "pulling their hair out" because of the stress.

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       Caitlin Rawlinson, 20, can't put up a cot or pram for her baby, who she fears will have to live in the 'freezing' log cabin 6

       The council confirmed that they deemed the log cabin unsuitable for a newborn baby and mother Credit: CAITLYN RAWLINSON

       She said: "My mum's trying to do everything she can, she helped me buy baby clothes.

       "But I can't build a cot, I can't build a pram. I have one but it's sat in a box because I have no space. I don't have anywhere for him to sleep."

       According to Caitlin, Elmbridge Council said they would move the new mum into a mother and baby unit - which her mental health officer already said wasn't suitable.

       And the closest one on offer is an hour and a half away from Caitlin's hospital, friends, and family.

       The 20-year-old, who suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD, said she needs her support network when she gives birth this month, rather than being "isolated".

       She added: "I feel at my wit's end. I'm so stressed I want to cry all the time. I don't know what else I can do."

       An Elmbridge Borough Council spokesman said: “An inspection was made of the annexe by a member of our team; they determined that the property will not be suitable for a baby.

       HOUSING HELL

       "And at this point, if Ms Rawlinson has not been offered permanent accommodation through the Housing Register, we will accommodate Ms Rawlinson in temporary accommodation until more settled accommodation can be found.

       "The inspection determined that the property is suitable until Ms Rawlinson gives birth.

       “Ms Rawlinson will be prioritised for temporary accommodation in Elmbridge, allowing her to access medical support, as well as assistance from friends and family at a time when she needs it most.

       “We did discuss an out of area placement in a mother and baby unit, however, this was never formally offered, as through our discussions with Ms Rawlinson we determined this would be unsuitable.

       “Elmbridge Borough Council does not manage a stock of affordable housing, and so Ms Rawlinson would not be offered a council let.

       "Instead we rely on our housing association partners to provide long term social housing. These properties are offered via our Housing Register; we currently have over 2,000 households waiting for accommodation.

       "Unfortunately, there is not enough affordable accommodation in Elmbridge to meet demand which causes significant waiting times on our housing register.

       “Our housing team are in regular contact with Ms Rawlinson. We want to make sure we can find her the accommodation she needs at the right time; in fact, we are hoping to have a positive discussion with Ms Rawlinson today.”

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       At 35 weeks, pregnant Caitlin fears she will have to bring her baby home to the freezing cabin because the council haven't sorted her accommodation Credit: Caitlyn Rawlinson 6

       The 20-year-old is 'in tears' and 'cries all the time' because of the stress Credit: Caitlyn Rawlinson