HOUSING officers are looking into why a young Southampton mum was booted out of her home despite promises that her rent was being paid.

Paula Kennard, 24, was stunned when she arrived at her St James House flat, in Orchard Lane, to find bailiffs were changing the door locks.

She was told she owed £1,700 in rent and would not be allowed back in until it was paid.

Bailiffs even banned the trainee hairdresser and her six-year-old daughter Serena from entering to pick up clothes, claimed Paula.

The situation has turned into a bitter row between the Kennard family and Southampton housing officers.

The young mum, who has difficulty reading and writing, said she thought her benefit money was being paid directly to rent collectors.

But council housing workers say the payments had been cut off months before because they suspected Paula was working.

Now Southampton City Council housing chiefs are asking questions about the handling of the case.

The move follows complaints from two ward councillors, the family and vice chairman of Southampton tenants' association Lance Vinter.

He said: "I am glad they are looking into it because it's not an isolated case in housing benefits.

"From what I know of the case, Paula's been treated diabolically. I just hope the debt is wiped out and she's offered another property."

Now housing bosses will meet the Kennards in an effort to get to the bottom of the trouble, which has caused Paula's mum Jane, 61, to become severely depressed.

A Southampton City Council spokeswoman said Paula was given repeated chances to speak to housing officers, but never did.

"She was evicted from her council home following a court decision in July, as a result of serious rent arrears," she said.

"Before this, council officers repeatedly tried to make contact with her, in order to resolve the situation and prevent the eviction taking place."