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.

Gosh, I am so very sorry, this is absolutely disgraceful. I really hope you get some help soon!

@PinkyPia we would NEVER do that. We need the council to fix the holes so that they don’t come in.

Do you think any journalists read Mumsnet?

I have seen different posts on the daily mirror tbh don’t go the sun go to your own paper then the news like I’ve said itv news have helped people do you have a local news channel or radio station you could speak to.

Mum is in hospital. I’m back home. I feel like I’m losing the will to live. I can’t fight with these people anymore.

Go to the national papers. You need to shame the council. You’ve given them every chance.

@ChompandaGrazia do you think they’d be interested?

Definitely start with the local as it'll be front page news, and it'll be shared on local social media pages.

Unless there are hundreds of you in that one particular authority, you've seriously organised yourselves, and it's linked to something major like corruption, a national might put it on page 18.

A friend has been in a multi year battle with his social housing landlord in London, and after failing to get anywhere with the council, he got attention through

1. Green Party politician for the wider area (posted on TikTok about 4 months ago)
2. ITV London news (TV, 3 months ago)
3. very local rag (online, 2 months ago)
4. London Evening Standard (online, 3 weeks ago)

Friend is now finally being rehoused in better equivalent accomodation very nearby.

(Edit: it also means it won't get commented on by a particular type of person who watches GBspews/reads The S*n with weird opinions on who social housing is for)

Thanks @Agapornis. Great info. And so glad to hear it worked out well for your friend x

You didn’t answer when I asked this before, but what do you mean by ‘not interested’? So they just hang up? Nobody ever suggests sending a surveyor round?

The smell of rat urine is so bad my eyes and nostrils are stinging. I don’t want to stay here.

That's what I'd have to do.

@Bumcake the Housing Officer (who has visited the property) says it falls outside of her remit. You can’t contact the Repairs Dept directly, you have to go via ‘ContactUs@…’. They have now offered us a telephone meeting next week. All of the MPs and government people I have contacted did not reply.

Complain to ward (local) councillors and also your MP about your living conditions op x

Your MP can’t just not respond, they work for you. I would send the same email daily until it was answered.

Can you email the head of the council, or his / her EA? The housing officer is a lazy idiot.

@lizzyb we have. Our MP couldn’t give a flying fuck. Lots of people have alerted her to our case, but she has ignored it all.

Our Local Councillor has been very helpful though, and has raised 3 Member Enquiries with the Council, regarding each of the issues. Which we really appreciate. But the Council have yet to respond.

@Bumcake I have emailed the CEO of the Council. Again, no reply.

We are probably in the worst Borough in the country 😔

The local councillor is possibly a useful ally, as they can pressurise the relevant departments.

How can they get away with leaving your house like this! This is appalling. Keep on at them daily via direct emails and public social media posts with details and photos/videos. Make yourself a nuisance and they will hopefully sort you out

We’ve done everything. It’s as if we don’t exist to them.

This sounds awful. I put a summary of OP's situation into chatgpt and asked for a letter of complaint. Hopefully the legal references are useful. Here it is, good luck OP:
Subject: URGENT – Dangerous Living Conditions and Health Hazard in Council Property
Dear [Council Complaints Team / Housing Repairs / CEO],
I am writing to escalate a formal and urgent complaint regarding the uninhabitable and dangerous condition of my council property at [Your Full Address].
Despite contacting:

• My Housing Officer
• The Repairs Team
• The CEO of the Council
• My MP
• My London Assembly Member
• The Head of the London Assembly
• Multiple other Members of Parliament

…no action has been taken to address the serious and worsening conditions in my home. 🛑 Summary of Issues:

• A large rat ran into the living room where my disabled, bed bound mother sleeps.
• The stench of rat urine is so strong it causes burning in our eyes and nostrils. It is unbearable and clearly harmful to health.
• There is significant mould growth in the property.
• Broken floorboards are a trip and injury hazard.
• Several power sockets have fallen out of the wall, leaving exposed wiring and open holes, creating serious electrical risks.
• The council is aware of these issues and has done nothing. I cannot afford private pest control, and my housing officer has said this is “out of her remit.”

🧑‍🦽 Vulnerable Occupant: My mother is disabled, bedbound, and sleeps in the living room, where these problems are most severe. She cannot be moved. The infestation, filth, and electrical dangers are a direct threat to her health and safety. ⚖️ Your Legal Responsibility: Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, the council is legally required to ensure the property is:

• Structurally sound
• Free from serious disrepair
• Safe from pests/vermin
• Free from hazards such as mould, unsafe flooring, and faulty electrics

This is a breach of statutory duty. Additionally, by failing to act while knowing a disabled adult is at risk, the council may be in breach of the Equality Act 2010. ❗ What I Am Requesting:

• Immediate inspection by Environmental Health or a senior housing officer
• Emergency pest control intervention at no cost
• Urgent repairs to flooring, walls, and electrical outlets
• A timeline for addressing mould and property disrepair

Please treat this as a Stage 1 formal complaint and provide a written response and reference number within 10 working days. If not resolved promptly, I will escalate this to:

• The Housing Ombudsman
• Environmental Health
• Legal representatives or housing solicitors if needed

Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Your Full Address] [Phone Number] [Email Address]

A Council Rep came round a couple of weeks ago. I found her on the doorstep looking at the dangerous, collapsing front steps. She was waiting to meet Mum’s social worker. She said she was from the Council Repairs Dept but didn’t usually do home visits. She refused to give her name but I remember what she looked like (blonde, middle-aged, colourful short dress and trainers).

When I asked her about the repairs, she said they would probably wait until the house was ‘Void’. Not sure, but I think this means they are waiting for us to die until they do the repairs?

Can anybody who works for a Council clarify what ‘Void’ means in this context? Thanks.

OP, have you talked to lawyers about this? Or Shelter? If not, please contact housing expert lawyers first thing. Would you qualify for legal aid? if so you can find lawyers from here - https://find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk

Thank you @frazzled1. I have already contacted all of those people.

Maybe I should do a Name & Shame 😳