A pregnant single mother was taken to a rat infested meetinghouse after bravely escaping her home because of domestic violence.
Sian Hope * and her two-year-old daughter lived in a refuge after escaping their previous life in September with only their clothes on their backs.
Birmingham City Council then offered them a two-bed end terrace, but they couldn’t see it before moving in due to Covid restrictions.
But nothing could have prepared Sian – who is expecting her second child in July – for what they found, reports Birmingham Live.
She has described being kept awake at night by the scratching noises and unable to leave food in the kitchen.
You’ve also seen tails darting across the baseboards.
“We were very excited when we were offered the house, but we couldn’t believe it when we moved in,” said Sian.
Are you in a similar situation to Sian? Let us know at webnews@mirror.co.uk
Sian was woken up over Bank Holiday by an injured mouse trapped in a vase
(Image: BirminghamLive / WS)
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On the subject of matching items
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On the subject of matching items
“It’s got heavy rats and mice, broken floorboards, no carpets, and the attic is lazy. There are rooms with no skirting boards and gaps between the wall and the floor that are so big you can see rat tails running through them.
“I can see the rats urinate in the walls and they seep onto the floor. Every day I bleach my kitchen.
“My daughter is scared of being in her own bedroom. All you can hear is scratching. The rats and mice go crazy in the attic at night. It wakes her up, she’s petrified.”
The rodents chewed through the cooling cables
(Image: BirminghamLive / WS)
Sian said their clothes were chewed and rats bit through and broke the cords of their fridge and freezer.
She claims the council refused to replace it, which means she “lives on microwave meals” and mostly has to take refuge in her bedroom, where there is carpet.
The council said it sent pest control to bait all affected areas, plans to conduct rodent screening work and has promised to continue monitoring and treating the property until bait is no longer consumed.
But Sian says the treatments so far have had no effect and there is feces everywhere – and dead rodents are left behind for days.
Sian and her daughter are kept awake by hurried noises
(Image: BirminghamLive / WS)
During Bank Holiday, Sian was awakened at 4 a.m. to the sound of an injured mouse spinning around in a vase – only to be told it had to wait until Tuesday for someone to come out.
Sian said neighbors told her there has been a rodent problem on the three-house patio for three years and it appears to be from their property.
“My house is disgusting. I call the council every other day. I’ve sent so many emails and complaints,” she said.
In addition to the rodents, there are also heating issues with the kettle turning itself off every night, meaning Sian and her daughter have “constant coughs and chest infections.”
“The health visitor was and said it was not safe,” she added.
The mother was even injured when she fell into a hole in the floor.
“I’m stuck. I was told my only way out was to give up my tenancy and declare myself homeless. But I can’t because I’m going to have a baby in eight weeks, but I don’t want to bring my baby back here,” she explained.
A council spokesman said: “We apologize for the distress this has caused the tenant and will work with her to ensure the property remains pest free.”
* Sian’s name has been changed and we have chosen not to disclose her location in order to protect her identity due to the violent situation that has left her
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