Mum-of-two pleads for help after temporary accommodation infested with mice and cockroaches – South London News

VaselineJune 11, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Mum-of-two pleads for help after temporary accommodation infested with mice and cockroaches – South London News

A single mum-of-two is calling for help after months of living with mice and cockroaches in her council flat.

Roche Smith, 29, and her two children, aged three and seven, were moved temporary accommodation in London Road, Mitcham, by Lambeth council in January.

She said: “Being in this house is awful.

“The mice are eating our food and the owner says there is nothing he can do.”

Pest control attended Mrs. Smith’s property on April 12 and 26. The report detailed “bad mouse infestations, particularly in the bedroom”, which required “repairs to fill holes” in the floor and walls.

*Image shows a piece of bread that was eaten by mice (Image: Roche Smith)*

But Mrs Smith said no one from the council or pest control had visited the property since.

A Lambeth council spokesman said: “Due to the housing crisis in Lambeth and London as a whole, there is a significant shortage of suitable and affordable housing in Lambeth – council-owned or in the private rented sector.”

Ms Smith said the property was also full of damp and mould, which she believed was affecting her children’s health.

She said: “My son has asthma and can’t settle down. She is constantly coughing and the GP told me that the mold will make it worse.”

Mrs Smith has been living in temporary accommodation under Lambeth council for four years.

*A dead mouse in the property (Image: Roche Smith)*

She said: “I’ve been bidding since my son was a baby but it just got too much.

“They can’t keep putting people in temporary accommodation like this – the council acts like it’s fine but people can’t live in these conditions.”

A council spokesman said they had received a request from Ms Smith to review the accommodation.

They said: “As part of this process we will carry out a full inspection of the property to investigate any suspected pest control issues.

“We will work with the accommodation provider to resolve any issues identified during the inspection. If it is not possible to resolve the issues with the resident on site, we will arrange alternative temporary accommodation.”

Top image: Roche Smith (Image: Roche Smith)

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