‘It’s VILE in here’: Sheffield mum’s council house from hell with rats, asbestos and a blocked toilet

Becky Johnson, 30, of Wensley Croft, S4, has been forced to sleep in one room in her house with her three sons as ‘rats the size of cats’ make their way through concrete and brickwork in her kitchen and ‘run wild from room to room’.

And the recent discovery of asbestos is the living room ceiling has left the 6-months pregnant mum fearing for her children’s health.

Ms Johnson says she has been ‘passed from pillar to post’ for the last 5 years as she desperately appealed to the council for help.

But all the council has done is place rat poison and traps, and the damage caused by the undeterred vermin now means that the drains in the house do not work and debris spread by rats litters the floor.

“It’s disgusting,” Ms Johnson said. “They get in and get at the food, the clothes, my kids’ things. Cupboards are full of rat poo and wee so I can’t use them anymore.

“Nobody ever does anything about it. Most of the time I am left putting rat traps and poison down myself.

“The rats have somehow got to the drains. There is something in there blocking them, so my toilet doesn’t work. All the council do then is send somebody round to unblock it and the problem just repeats again and again.

Becky has contacted the council many times to complain about her situation.

She has asked to be put on an priority list for people who need new accommodation however because her children go to school in the local area she is unable to move far so an alternative house has not been found.

She is also in regular contact with her local housing officer, who she says has known about the problem for years.

“It feels like nobody wants to help me,” Becky said. “I am so worried for my children’s health. We are suffering. It is absolutely vile in here.”

Janet Sharpe, Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services said: “The resident contacted us last Thursday and our environmental services team are carrying out treatment for the rats this week.

“The living room ceiling has been damaged due to a roof leak. We did a check at the property this week to make sure it is safe.

“We also plan to fully remove and replace the ceiling and have contacted the resident to arrange a time for the work to be carried out.”