The city council has been branded "shameful" after rehousing a Norwich family 40 miles away in Ipswich - despite a council flat in their former building standing empty for more than three weeks.
People living close to Helder Brazao's former home in Derby Street have told the Evening News that the property has been vacant since early August.
Mr Brazao was forced to move with his partner and their two children to the Suffolk town after their privately rented home was totally destroyed during a fire earlier this year.
Initially the family had been told by Norwich City Council that they would be living in the Ipswich flat for just a few weeks.
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But they have been in the property – which Helder describes as “very small” and “unsuitable” – for more than a month.
The experience has left him fearing for his job and struggling with his mental health.
"It is shameful what they are doing," said Mr Brazao, after being informed of the vacant property.
"I can't see any excuse for it."
The family's ordeal comes after Green Party councillors called for an "urgent review" into City Hall's spending on temporary accommodation.
The party claims that millions of pounds are being wasted on "insecure" shelter miles away from Norwich, often leaving people far away from their work and families.
Green councillor Amanda Fox has been working to help Mr Brazao and his family.
"Families should not have to be moved miles away from their home, to a different county, because of a lack of accommodation in Norwich," she said.
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"At the same time, council houses are sitting empty for months as the council is failing to get on top of a backlog of repairs.
"We urgently need improvement in the way the council deals with repairs, as well as more council-owned temporary accommodation, so that people are not forced to live in bedsits in another city or sleep in cars while they wait for the keys to a house they were promised."
Norwich City Council declined requests for comment on the vacant flat in Derby Street.
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