‘We’re living in a nightmare home with fleas and mice

A frustrated mum says she is being driven “mad” by fleas and mice in her council home just weeks after moving in. Lucy Day says her three-year-old daughter, Karma, is so scared of the pests that the pair have been forced to live out of one room at the Margate flat. The 38-year-old claims Thanet District Council (TDC) has visited the property several times to investigate her complaints but has since told her pest control is the responsibility of tenants.

Ms Day, who is set to start a youth work apprenticeship in the autumn, says she cannot afford to tackle the problem herself and questions why she should have to having moved in just eight weeks ago. She says: “It’s a nightmare. I’m literally living out of my daughter’s room and we make our food in an air fryer.

I haven’t even plugged my cooker in. “I try to stay out as much as I can during the day and only stay here at night. “I’m worried about my daughter’s health – she has asthma as well.

“She’s petrified of even sitting in her bedroom on her own because she saw a mouse run across the floor.” The mum and daughter sleep in the same bed so that Karma feels safe at night. The ongoing issue has also prevented Ms Day from turning the property into the home she would like.

“I refuse point blank to put any carpets or furniture in a property that’s got mice burrowing out of the walls - they’ll end up chewing the carpet, and fleas are just going to lay larvae,” she says. TDC says the property was mouse and flea-proofed before she moved in, and they have found no evidence of an infestation on three visits since. However, a video shows a mouse entering a room via a gap in the skirting boards.

Ms Day has also shared pictures of her flea bites and a hospital note stating she was showing signs of a reaction she says was caused by the bites. “I was put on a steroid-based tablet for six days and another medication I have to take at night that makes you drowsy,” Ms Day explains. “I had an allergic reaction to the flea bites - I swelled up and everything.

“To be honest with you, it’s driving me mad, because I’m supposed to be looking for work and focusing on my career as well. “I’ve been offered an apprenticeship in October so I’ve got to get the hours of work in for that.” TDC says the previous resident never reported any of the issues Ms Day has experienced, and stressed that pest control is the responsibility of tenants.

“We understand that dealing with pests in the home is an unpleasant experience for anyone,” the spokesperson continued. “Residents are responsible for getting rid of infestations (including fleas, bed bugs, cockroaches, mice and rats) in their own home. “Pest control services are not something the council has a duty to provide for its tenants.

“This is explained in the tenant handbook, which is given to everyone who rents from the council, and in each individual tenancy agreement. “Special rates have been negotiated for Thanet residents with AGS OnePest Control. “People are advised to check that second-hand furniture doesn’t have bed bugs or fleas before bringing it into their home.

” The housing charity Shelter argues that pest control is a landlord’s responsibility if the infestation is caused by a repair they could fix. TDC was asked why it had visited the flat to investigate the complaints if pest control is the responsibility of tenants, but has yet to respond..