Would I bu to go to the papers about this housing association

[notaregularmom]

Lived in this property for 5 years, 3 years ago we had mice under the bath and was catching about 5 a week in traps. Called the councils pest control who came out and said they could see any evidence of mice so wouldn't help, even though we could here them in the loft and in the walls. Then discovered that we had rats in the airing cupboard and around the same time bed bugs were found. I called the council again and we paid for the rats and bed bugs to be sorted. It was a right pain but we thought they'd sorted it. 4 weeks later bed bugs and rats were back. I called my housing in despair, me and my children's father separated and he moved out leaving me with no money and having to claim universal credit I was in a right mess. Long story short they said they would pay to get it sorted. Again I had to go through the same stress again of literally moving the whole inside of my house into the garden so that the treatment could be done. Anyway that was in November and the bugs are back and the rat is still in the airing cupboard. Pest control have just been and found huge holes in the airing cupboard and under the bath. The boiler and bath need to come out so that the holes can be filled in otherwise this is just going to be a never ending problem. My bathroom is downstairs and the airing cupboard is in there too and the whole downstairs of my house stinks of rat dropping and urine, the pest controller just showed me under the bath and it's horrendous. I've been telling the housing for weeks that these holes need to be dealt with and they keep saying they will and that so and so will be out on such a day but no one turns up. I have 5 kids and the house is just not fit to live in. The rats are also in my neighbours loft because there travel back and fourth between the bathrooms.
I spoke to someone from housing yesterday and he said he would raise the problems again and get the bugs sorted. I suffer with depression and anxiety and I can't face this all again. I just want to run away, the thought of having to empty this house again fills me with absolute dread. My mum reckons I should report this to the papers because it's not on. I just don't have any fight in me.

So many typos, so sorry.
Couldn't see.

Have you tried contacting your local MP they can sometimes get things moving.. Sorry I'm not sure if the HA is a government organisation but if it is it would be worth a try

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, it sounds horrific. But I don't see how you think going to the papers will help. You need to speak to CA and see if there are legal routes available to you

Should also say that I've been telling them since November that the holes need sorting but they don't want to take the boiler and water tank out because it costs to much to do. Once it's all out it will need cleaning in there to get rid of the dropping and urine.

Contact your local MP. I used to work for a housing association and some of the stories I heard about repairs were shocking! It sounds like you're being fobbed off by junior staff. Speak to your MP and local paper and see how quickly it gets escalated to senior management.

You could also try posting on their social media channels (with pics). The PR team will pick it up and hopefully put you in touch with someone who has the authority to take some action.

Hi OP

please read the attached link from citizens advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-in-rented-housing/repairs-common-problems/repairs-infestations-of-pests-and-vermin/

im assuiming you have an Assured Shorthand Tenancy.

can I also suggest the following for you:

if you can keep a diary of the noise and time of the rats/ mice and photo graphic evidence.

keep a record of the names and times of everyone you have had contact with.

contact the councils environmental health officer if you have not already and ask for their advice and ask for some traps (humane or otherwise)

I would not suggest the papers- to be honest this is all too common a problem- as councils and housing associations are so understaffed and under budget.

the best way to deal with a housing association is to bypass the customer services team and go straight to the Head of Customer Services and cc in the chief exec and chair of the board. You should find their details on google/ their website. be polite, but stress the urgency and how much dispart this is causing you and your children. In your email to them state you have contacted citizens advice and your next step will be to contact the housing ombudsman if not sorted ( [email protected]).

please make sure holes in the walls are not filled with foam- it must be something that sets hard or the rats can eat through it, or you will have the same problem.

I have never heard of having to take out the boiler and water tank though, they should be able to fix holes around with metal mesh and cement, all pipework makes holes so this is not uncommon.

one thing I would say- and I'm not saying that is the case here- is you need to be sure that nothing you or your family (or your neighbours) are doing is attracting the rats or bugs.

bugs once pest control have been should be completely clear, so they maybe still on any furniture, pets or clothes/ fabrics that have not been treated- ie if you moved stuff outside. fabrics need a 60^ + wash to kill bugs. your landlord will not be responsible for your furniture or clothes- etc which I know is not right, but that's the law. I also know the if you don't clear everything then they re always going to come back.

the rats and mice, they will eat anything and will probably be coming in for a warm. but there must be some food source for them either in yours or your neghbours for them to keep coming back, either in the form of food, rubbish or crumbs.. potentially there maybe a nest outside as well, which is why they come back so quick. can you see/ do you know if your neighbour is clearing away all their stuff- if not, you can fix the holes, but unless its 100% airtight then they will come back.

if afraid that your landlord maybe responsible for getting rid of the bugs and rats, but they are not responsible for the cleaning afterwards- that's any good will you have and how nice they want to be to you. which is why I say be polite but firm in emails- this has a better outcome.

good luck

Thank you everyone, lots to take onboard.

The reason for the boiler and water tank being taken out is because the hole is at the back behind them and it's a really tight space.
It's definitely coming in for warmth because I've seen it chilling on top of the tank garden is all clear so no food ect to entice them in. Next door have a scruffy garden so not sure if they have anything in there that would attract rats. Last time pest control put poison down the rat ate it all and I didn't hear anything, 3 weeks later I open the door to see him staring back at me I explained housing that they needed to sort it when it was gone but the did nothing and now he's back..bigger and fatter than ever!

This sounds absolutely awful OP. It's not way to live :( sorry I can't help but it is disgusting. Is it worth contacting EHO in the council?

Look up your HA's complaints procedure and take the first steps of making a formal complaint.

Copy in the chief exec of the HA to everything. Refusing to remedy defects that make it impossible to eradicate vermin is really irresponsible.

Also contact your district or borough's environmental health department and ask to speak to the team (more probably one person these days) that deal with housing disrepair issues. They have the power to force landlords to carry out repairs. It's pointless doing pest control work when the cause of the problem is the holes where the rats are getting in.

If that doesn't work, contact CAB or similar advice agency and make an appointment with a housing adviser. I think you might still be able to get legal aid for housing disrepair issues, and if so, the HA might respond if legal action is threatened. (Years ago, one London borough would only act if proceedings were issued.)

The HA are behaving discracefully. It sounds awful.

I have worked in housing my advice would be;

Contact your MP and local councillors with pictures if possible and ask for their help in prompting the HA

Contact the Environmental Health Team at the council and say you are concerned that the rats are a risk to your children’s health and ask them to view your property and contact your landlord

Contact the HA and ask for a copy of their repair target times and their complaints procedure

Follow the complaints procedure - in the first letter/email write that you have contacted the Environmental Health and say you will escalate the complaint to the ombudsman if they fail to address your concerns

If they don’t deal with things contact the ombudsman

www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/residents/make-a-complaint/

Wouldn’t this fall under a disrepair claim? I have taken my HA to task via a legal disrepair claim and got the issue fixed and damages paid out to me.

My issues were not around pest control but I’m sure when I was looking into it/looking for a solicitor pest related issues were also covered, as said up thread sometimes that’s the only way to go as I tried to resolve my issues without legal involvement but they brushed me off... until the solicitor got on their case.

There is no legal aid for disrepair anymore - one of the things that led to Grenfell