To be scared to sleep because there’s a rat in my house?

[ScaredOfRat]

Watching the news this evening and a massive rat ran into the living room. I chased him out but not sure where he is now. I’m scared to sleep.

You are not being unreasonable, but the rat is unlikely to approach you at night. It will keep its distance. We had one in our kitchen once. The cats and the dog were no help with catching it, but fortunately we were about to go on holiday so once our pets were safely out of the house we put rat poison down. When we got back a week later the rat poison had been eaten and there was no sign of the rat, and we never had another one.

Coming back to say I am so sorry you are going through this. Clearly the rat is only one part of a much bigger issue, given your updates and photographs.

Agree with others- contact environmental health and the press - literally any press who will listen (and plenty will!). It's appalling that you are being left to live in those conditions and essentially being ignored by the authorities.

What support does your mother have, given she is bed bound? Are there carers/district nurse visiting? Can you contact her GP or the local district nurse team to get support regarding the living conditions? Adult social care?

I absolutely get that this is massively hard and you no doubt feel hopeless because you have tried so many people, but please contact environmental health, the press and your mum's GP - all should help get things moving.

You need a trap, like a big cage. Put some peanut butter in and the rat wont resist it. Job done.

@PumpkinPie2016 actually Mum’s GP is visiting tomorrow. I will show her the video. She knows about all the other problems because she has visited the house before.

And this is the state of the ceiling in my bedroom. It looks like the valley ducting is collapsing. Maybe the roof will cave in and kill me and the rat 😂

It will def help to show the GP the mould and say you are very worried about the impact on her health.
Would you be able to ask the GP to write a letter for you to send to the council, environmental health etc. outling the risks to health due to living conditions ?
Keep sending emails and photos with everyone copied in, including local newspapers and MP.
Basically be a pain in their backside.
Emphasize how urgent the situation is.

(I think the mould problem is more concerning than the rat problem).

You need to get out of that house, it sounds derelict.

I can’t believe this, it’s Dickensian.

OP, get onto the media. This is shocking.

I am taking myself off out today to Let Women Speak. I’ll get some peppermint oil whilst I’m out.

I assume next door is the same? The pictures are so bad they would suggest that your home would not be in isolation. Did you name and shame the council on twitter?

How can they get away with charging you £800 a month for this?!

I empathise. I have a crippling fear of rodents so would probably be in a hotel til it was sorted.

Just saying I’m so sad and upset that you and your poorly mum have to live in this dilapidated place. Make your voice heard 💐

YANBU.

I had a tiny little mouse in my flat a few years back and was terrified to go near the kitchen. I'd leave the lights on all night in the hope that it would scare him away from moving out of his lair. And rats are way scarier! I hope you get this sorted asap.

A quick update from me: Mum was taken into hospital by ambulance this afternoon. I have asked them to test for Leptospirosis just in case.

Also I finally heard from the council. They have scheduled a phone meeting on 8 August to discuss the ‘repair’. Phone meeting. They’re not even coming to the house. Maybe they’re scared of rats, too.

Hope your mum gets the care /treatment she needs.
From the pics you posted of your house it needs more than a bloody repair it needs gutted

Honestly, you need to be more aggressive about this. Insist on a visit at least!

'ScaredOfRat' I'm SO sorry to hear that your Mum's been taken to hospital, and really hope that it's nothing to do with Leptospirosis! Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, I would get onto the Council again and tell them that a meeting by phone is simply not good enough!! Did you report it to Environmental Health yet? If not, then please, please do!! I hate the thought of you living like this.

Is it council or landlord
This is crazy.

It's Council. I have reported the situation to all relevant government departments, the London Assembly, Keir Starmer (LOL!), Minister for Housing, etc. No-one cares.

I spoke to the doctor in the hospital this evening and he asked me what I wanted to happen. I said I wanted Mum to go to Rehab for 3 weeks (this was offered to her at her last hospital admission) and for the Council to sort the house out whilst she's away. But I doubt that will happen.

Honestly, I just want to have a few glasses of wine and compose a Press Release and send it to all the papers and news channels with pictures: "THIS IS HOW WE LET OUR ELDERLY LIVE IN THE UK." I am SO angry.

Would you be willing to let GB news in while your mums in hospital? Might make the council act when they decide to call you

So is this what a doctor asks
How strange is that

I am so sad to see this. It’s utterly disgraceful that you pay 200 pounds per week for this. Please go down the route of the press xxxx

Should you want to avoid GB News for whatever reason - the local newspaper does report on these things, as well as the local BBC (Local Democracy Reporting Service - probably the same journalist!).

PLEASE DONNOT USE STICKY MATS OR POISON!

Not only are they extremely cruel but they are a danger to pets. A mouse can ingest poison then get caught by a cat and the cat x
can die.

My cat also came home with a sticky rat trap stuck in her fur. She had to be sedated to remove it!

We have a local paper. I would feel more comfortable contacting them than GB News or The Sun.