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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pregnant and potentially homeless

28 replies

cookiedoughs · 10/10/2023 21:44

I am 31 weeks pregnant and really don't know what to do.

I live in an apartment that has a fly infestation.

The housing association have basically said it is my responsibility to get this fixed but I am pretty sure they knew about this infestation before I moved in.

The whole apartment block appears to have an infestation, the tenants that live beneath me used to live in this apartment and they said they moved because of the numerous leaks/ fly's.

I must kill about 20 - 30 fly's a day and now I have seen an abundance of spiders and I really just want to leave this apartment ASAP.

I have tried pest control, fly bombs, spray and nothing seems to work.

Just as I found out I was pregnant I went from full time to part time so renting privately is out the question.

Is it worth handing in my notice and seeking emergency housing from the council?

I just hate this apartment and I don't want to newborn baby to be around fly's and spiders.

I really don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Persipan · 10/10/2023 21:46

If you give notice you'd be making yourself intentionally homeless. Don't do that.

Have you talked to Environmental Health?

Original poster
cookiedoughs · 10/10/2023 21:47

Persipan · 10/10/2023 21:46

If you give notice you'd be making yourself intentionally homeless. Don't do that.

Have you talked to Environmental Health?

Hi, no I have not spoke to Environmental Health.

Would they they be able to help me?

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 10/10/2023 21:49

Environmental health have enforcement powers. They can fine your housing association.

Peacelily001 · 10/10/2023 21:51

Have they checked on all the other tenants OP?

It’s unusual to have lots of flies this time of year - not being morbid but you do hear of people dying in their homes and not being found for ages.

Justcallmebebes · 10/10/2023 21:51

Keep the spiders, they'll eat the flies

Original poster
cookiedoughs · 10/10/2023 21:52

MrsMoastyToasty · 10/10/2023 21:49

Environmental health have enforcement powers. They can fine your housing association.

I will contact the Environment Health tomorrow and see what they advise.

Thank you x

OP posts:
Sidetalk · 10/10/2023 21:53

Don’t! As PP, you will make yourself intentionally homeless! As a result, the council will not help you.

Agree, speak to environmental health, also your midwife and GP for help.

Shelter has some great resources, give them a ring too.

CCSS15 · 10/10/2023 21:54

What kind of flies are they? If you know what they are then may give an indication of what's causing them

And it's the whole block that has the issues?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/10/2023 21:54

Do see if you can get environmental health involved, but also I recommend sticky fly papers. They are gross but non-toxic, and they work - change them frequently of course.

Don't worry about the spiders, they are harmless and you can just put them out the window if there are too many.

Oowoo · 10/10/2023 21:56

I’m so sorry you’re going through this it must be so stressful!
are you currently renting with the council? If not I would apply to. I also wouldn’t end your contract as then they would consider it as you making yourself intentionally homeless.
please speak to your maternity team or GP they should be able to make a referral to the local housing authority about the unsuitable accommodation. You yourself could also try getting in touch with citizens advice or Shelter.
sending you luck!

ltappleby · 10/10/2023 22:05

Sounds like it might be cluster flies. The season lasts about 4 to 6 weeks so they should be gone by November. It’s very hard to get rid of them permanently though. They’re not a health hazard like bluebottles, but still horrible while they’re around.

Beckafett · 10/10/2023 22:06

I'd speak to shelter for some advice. Lots of councils and housing associations have a firm 'we don't deal with certain types of pests' policies but they need to listen to communal issues.
I had an abundance of files and I think they had laid eggs in my window frames-have you any idea where they are from?
Have you logged a formal complaint? Spoken to your housing officer? Tried a local councillor or MP? Twitter (x) is also good to get attention from CEO's etc

Thisismeyeah · 10/10/2023 22:06

Can you shut all your doors and windows to try and establish the cause. You may fineld you have loads in your kitchen and very few elsewhere. At least you may narrownitndown. Are they are coming in through air vents? Could you put mesh over them to stop them getting in but still get airflow? They must be coming from somewheretry a draft excluder on your front door if there is a gap.

Its spider season so that normal.

Original poster
cookiedoughs · 10/10/2023 22:11

Thanks for the all advice everyone!

They are cluster flies, they seem to be coming from my bathroom.
I went away to stay with family for a week hoping that they would be gone and if anything there are more flies than ever now.

The whole communal area has them as well.

I will defo be contacting my hosing officer tomorrow and contacting the Environmental Health team about this.

OP posts:
Original poster
cookiedoughs · 10/10/2023 22:13

Beckafett · 10/10/2023 22:06

I'd speak to shelter for some advice. Lots of councils and housing associations have a firm 'we don't deal with certain types of pests' policies but they need to listen to communal issues.
I had an abundance of files and I think they had laid eggs in my window frames-have you any idea where they are from?
Have you logged a formal complaint? Spoken to your housing officer? Tried a local councillor or MP? Twitter (x) is also good to get attention from CEO's etc

How did you get rid of the flies?

I find a lot of dead flies on my window.

OP posts:
A2304 · 10/10/2023 22:22

Not sure about cluster flys but fruit flys lay eggs in the drains and the only way to get rid of them is pouring boiling water down all drains a few times a day you could try that and see if it helps

Mydogmybestfriend · 10/10/2023 22:23

I had the same issue. A rat or something died in-between my ceiling and neighbour above floor and they were coming from the light fitting I had to seal all the holes and the remaining eggs I killed/hoovered up
You need to seal all the holes

gingergiraffe · 10/10/2023 22:23

If it’s any consolation there does seem to be more cluster flies around this year. I recently stayed in a brand new barn conversion and every time I opened a window a lot of dozy flies flew out from underneath the frame where they were hibernating. Fortunately they are not attracted to food and waste like normal house flies but they are horrible. I am not sure what people do about them but I agree, time to call environmental health for advice.

Good luck. Not a pleasant situation to be in.

Mydogmybestfriend · 10/10/2023 22:25

Also if you have carpet remove it

Testina · 10/10/2023 22:27

Peacelily001 · 10/10/2023 21:51

Have they checked on all the other tenants OP?

It’s unusual to have lots of flies this time of year - not being morbid but you do hear of people dying in their homes and not being found for ages.

No it isn’t! It’s a really common time of year for some types. If you live near maize fields that have just been razed, there are LOADS - dopey buggers that get churned up from the soil. It’s short lived.

Lemon1111 · 10/10/2023 22:33

If you have complained to your housing association a couple of times and they won’t/haven’t investigated where and why these flies are coming from go to the housing ombudsman website and make a complaint. If your neighbours were allowed to move then someone must have known there is a problem and this should have been addressed by the empty homes team before it was relet to you..if you have only complained once It might also be worth calling up to make a complaint to the complaints team rather than just reporting a problem. It depends how big your housing association is., but the one I work for has a separate team that will investigate and if not resolved you can take it to a level 2 complaint. Don’t give up and don’t give notice on your tenancy. Tell them you are vulnerable because you are pregnant and they will need to emergency decant you if they can’t help you to fix this problem as they must have known this was an issue before housing you.

Beckafett · 10/10/2023 22:33

i sprayed all round the windows and frames from the outside (luckily it was a ground floor issue for me) and dug out some of the sealant and replaced where I think there were eggs

Testina · 10/10/2023 22:56

@Lemon1111 “It depends how big your housing association is., but the one I work for”

Serious question - even before the current housing crisis, would any HA seriously move someone because of a completely normal level of cluster flies at the completely normal time of year? It’s just life, surely? Even the pest control companies won’t say they’ll get rid of them permanently, because that’s impossible to do. They’re not a particular health hazard either, because they’re hibernating rather than landing frequently in faeces and spreading disease. I am gobsmacked if a HA would move someone over normal life.

SBHon · 10/10/2023 23:01

Cluster flies make me feel awful, you have my sympathies OP!

ExtraOnions · 10/10/2023 23:03

I think it’s Housing Standards, at the council, you need to contact, rather than environmental health.