A SINGLE mother with a six-year-old daughter facing eviction has told the Oxford Mail how 'scared' and 'stressed' she is feeling after Oxford City Council bought the house she is living in.

Earlier this month, Selestina Darkwah, who has worked as a care worker for the elderly in Oxford for nearly 10 years, said she received a text from Oxford Lettings telling her that her home is being sold off and she has to move out.

The property on Bernwood Road was put on the market nearly a year ago, however, Ms Darkwah claimed that she was not notified by the estate agency or the landlord.

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In fact, the 39-year-old first discovered she might be losing her home when friends showed her the listing on Rightmove and Zoopla.

Sharing her anger with Oxford City Council and Oxford Lettings, Ms Darkwah said: "I am not moving an inch.

"I am praying that whatever decision is made, it is in my favour.

"The council knows what they will be putting me through if they buy the house."

The care worker added that she recently joined community union ACORN with the hope that members help her oppose her eviction.

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Safieh Kabir, chair of the Oxford branch, highlighted that Ms Darkwah is facing what single working mums face every day – multiple evictions and 'degrading' treatment by social services.

Ms Kabir added: "Now that Selestina is a member of ACORN, she has hundreds of people to stand with her for the secure housing she and her daughter deserve.

"If Selestina wants to stay in Barton, where her whole life is, we are going to fight to make that happen."

While the estate agency did not respond to Oxford Mail's requests for a comment, an email they sent to Ms Darkwah sent on Monday, July 12, confirmed that the landlord had accepted an offer from Oxford City Council.

A spokesperson from the local authority said that its aim is to acquire 'good value' market sale properties to replenish its own housing stock, which is continuously reduced by the Right to Buy.

They added: "This property had been available for sale on the open market since October 2020 and the tenant would have been served notice whenever an offer was accepted.

"We understand that the landlord has other property in the area that could serve as potential alternative accommodation."