A mother has been left living in fear for her and her child's health after rats were found decomposing in the walls of her home, GloucestershireLive reports. The infestation of vermin occurred late in 2021 after a new kitchen was fitted. Ill-fitted drainage pipes, however, subsequently allowed rats to get into the property.
It was not until the tenant, who wishes to remain anonymous, had CCTV cameras set up in her attic that suspicions were confirmed. In the space of 10 minutes, five rats were seen scurrying around, sounding like a "monster coming through the walls".
The tenant, from Newent, Gloucestershire, prides herself on having a clean and tidy home, but was left questioning her sanity for a number of weeks after finding crumbs and "slime" on the floor of the kitchen. On several occasions, she woke up to find the fridge door open, and after a closer inspection, found the door had been gnawed.
Overwhelmed by the discovery, she asked her landlord, Wyedean Housing Association, for help with the rat infestation, but claims she was told it was her problem and she would have to deal with it. Wyedean Housing Association admits there was a rat infestation in the property, but "disagrees with the tenant's interpretation of events".
The tenant said: "I have lived at my home since 2019. I spent a lot of money on the house making it nice and a home for me and my child. I made the house a home and it is beautiful inside. The problems started when I had a new kitchen fitted last year.
"I was really pleased with the kitchen, but I did not know there was a great big hole behind the kitchen cupboard where the drainage pipe goes. All the noises started in December and it sounded like mice in the walls and in the attic. You could hear the running and them nibbling.
"It was getting bad so I set up CCTV in the attic in the end and watched what was happening up there from my phone. At one point on this night, I saw five rats scurrying about in the attic. I approached Wyedean Housing Association and they told me to deal with the issue myself. So I got the money together and hired a pest control man."
Wyedean Housing Association refutes this claim, however, and said it paid for a pest control service. The tenant grew increasingly concerned as wires were being chewed through by the rats. This worried the tenant and she felt the home should have an electrical test carried out as she did not feel safe.
She said: "An electrician came round but did not do anything. Just stood there and laughed at me as if I was being ridiculous. So I went to the Citizens' Advice Bureau and asked for their help because the whole situation was making me ill."
Wyedean Housing Association denies this and said "at no time were jokes or any mocking comments made by the electrician". The pest control man was going to the house regularly, and on his first visit, he told the tenant where the rats were able to get into the home. He pointed to the drainage pipe coming out of the house which had a big hole around it.
She said: "When the pest control man came to the house he had a look around and found where the rats were coming in from. They were coming in from the outside where the kitchen drainage pipe is, and it had a big hole around the pipe where it was the wrong size pipe or the hole around it had not been filled in properly.
"I am really clean and I used to wake up and find crumbs and slime on the floor. These rats are clever, aren’t they? And I woke up to find the fridge door open a few times and I later realised it was the rats.
"I went to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau who wrote to Environmental Health and Wyedean listing what we felt should happen with an electrical test and asking them to pay towards the pest control. The housing association has since said they will pay for the pest control to come in.
"Again I am not being listened to because I have a house with chewed electrics and it smells of ammonia. Rats are dying in the walls of the house, and I have been told when they die they swell and then are exploding, then give off poisonous gases."
The spokesman for Wyedean Housing Association said a report from the pest control man did not report "any smell of ammonia or decomposing rats in the walls, if there had been Wyedean would have addressed this as a matter of urgency".
The tenant added: "I have asked the housing association to help sort this out but they won't. I had clothes in the attic and I brought them down and found they were all nibbled and wet. I thought I had damp coming through the walls but it is where the rats are dying.
"My child knows the rats have been here and refuses to stay at home. He is scared he will find one come up out of the toilet and they will go into his room. The whole situation is really affecting both of us; I am really clean but feel so dirty. I am really disappointed with Wyedean for not listening and just fobbing me off."
What Wyedean Housing Association said:
A spokesman from Wyedean Housing Association said: "I can assure you that Wyedean takes matters such as this very seriously. Wyedean disagrees with the tenant's interpretation of events, but, Wyedean acknowledges that she has had an issue with a rat infestation in her property.
"This was first reported to the office on February 21, 2022. Wyedean requested an electrical contractor to visit and check the electrics – the report shows that all lights were working correctly, and the ceiling roses were also checked for potential issues, none were found.
"The tenant informed the contractor that all the rats were gone, so he checked the loft space, no issues were found with the lights. The tenant had two visitors at her home while the inspection took place, they were very pleasant to him and offered refreshments.
"At no time were jokes or any mocking comments made by the electrician. Wyedean has received the final report from the pest control company the tenant contacted, which states that all rodents in the property have now been eradicated and no further action is required.
"Whilst attending the property a non-drain valve was fitted to prevent further infestation, he has not reported any smell of ammonia or decomposing rats in the walls, if there had been Wyedean would have addressed this as a matter of urgency. Please note that Wyedean is paying the pest control company for their service.
"With regards to supporting the tenant, she contacted to ask if she could have another property that had become vacant on the estate. Her housing services officer advised her that void works were being carried out and we would make contact when the works were nearing completion.
"I spoke to the tenant and offered her the property, which she declined. She stated that she was on Homeseeker+, she also asked that if anything suitable came up with Wyedean, could she be considered, as she was happy with Wyedean and wanted to stay with us. I confirmed that she would be contacted when anything suitable arose. To date, there have been no suitable properties."
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
