A young man claims he's been left with flea bites after moving into "rat infested accommodation".
Ed Cogbill, 23, recently finished a master's degree in sustainable food systems at the University of Liverpool and is now on the lookout for work. He moved into the rented property in Toxteth along with his four housemates in the summer of 2022.
Ed told the ECHO that when viewing the house they noticed an external structural damage, as well as cosmetic issues such as a hole in the middle of the sofa. He added: "There were loads of assurances when we move in that these issues would be resolved. That stopped once we signed the tenancy agreement."
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Since last July, Ed claims they have reported numerous issues to Mistoria Estate Agents Liverpool, which is located on Picton Road and specialises in student lettings. Among Ed's complaints are problems with vermin - not long after moving in Ed said he started to notice flea bites on his body and has found rat droppings in the property.
He added: "I asked them to sort it and after about a month I told them I'd buy a flea treatment myself. They told me not to and said they would arrange their own pest control, but they're refusing. I've now ordered poison and rat traps that I'm putting down myself.
"I've gone to landlord licensing. There's no point in us reporting things anymore because it doesn't get fixed. We had a £40 invoice the other day. My flat mate's roof was falling in slightly so they came round, filled it in and sent us the bill.
"There's still a bag of rubbish here from the last tenants and when we moved in there was broken glass all over the yard. It's just a state really."
Mistoria Estate Agents said they have never refused to arrange a pest control company to attend the property and that they have an "exemplary record" of providing such support to tenants
Ed said his living situation is causing "so much stress". He added: "I'm already at a stressful point looking for jobs and being tight on money. The estate agent has been having a go at me and saying this is my problem. But it's a rat infestation in a property they're responsible for."
The issues have been reported to Environmental Health, who are in the process of arranging an inspection of the property.
Ed said: "I think because it's a students' letting agency they hope people will go away and not report it. But I'm making a point. It's against the law."
It is understood pest control experts visited the property yesterday (Wednesday, March 29 2023). A spokesperson for Mistoria Estate Agents Liverpool said: "Firstly, there would not be any situation in which our agency would refuse to arrange a pest control company to attend.
"As we use an outside professional agency for such, we would make that request and await their appointment. In the meantime, the process would be for our own maintenance team to attend and assess the need for interim intervention. This could and would include laying temporary traps, seeking and filling potential ingress points, that type of thing. Where appropriate to also discuss with tenants the need to not create potential feeding points within the property, by leaving uncovered food exposed and correct disposal of rubbish items.
"As all our properties are licenced, we are also required to provide adequate waste disposal, in the form of sealed kitchen bins and wheelie bins where necessary. As I’m sure you are aware there is currently a city wide active vermin issue, which the council are aware of but offer no support to residents. Given this, and the nature of shared accommodation, our company policy is to always support and further educate tenants if such arises within one of our properties. There would never be any instance of refusal to assist with pest control, regardless of the reason the vermin presence has been detected.
"I would be confident in my assurances that we have an exemplary record of providing such support to tenants, and I would encourage you to confirm this with Liverpool City Council directly. They keep a historic record of any reported pest issues, which would include our licenced properties. I am confident that their records would show, our properties have little to no footprint of ongoing vermin issues. We maintain and manage our properties in the highest professional manner, and we support our tenants throughout their tenancy. I can also confirm that we have received no communication from Landlord Licensing in respect of this matter."
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