‘I can’t sell my flat because my neighbours have turned it into a rat haven’

The woman claimed that her neighbours have not hoovered their property in the eight years she’s lived there, and there’s thick dust, mold and spider webs all over their windows

A mum has complained that her neighbours have made it impossible for her flat to sell after they’ve turned the building into a ‘rat haven’. She commented on how unhygienic their ground floor neighbours are and mentioned that environmental health had been contacted previously, but nothing had been done to prevent their behaviour.

She explained on Mumsnet that she lives in a four block of flats, with two downstairs and two upstairs flats. The woman said that she lives in a downstairs flat, which shares a hallway with the other downstairs neighbour, and the upstairs flats have their own separate entrance round the back of the building.

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She wrote: “The other ground floor neighbours are disgusting, and we are coming to think of selling but nobody will buy it with these neighbours I’m betting, is there anything we can do?

“I have never heard a hoover running in the eight years we’ve lived here, the stink coming from their flat is like an outside bin on a hot day and their living room window is covered in black mold, spider webs and has well over 200 dead moths laying in 2cms of dust.

“The back window that looks into the kitchen is the same, the kitchen surfaces are covered in rubbish bags and think black gunge. They get two takeaways delivered a day because presumably, they cannot use the kitchen.

“Now we have received a letter from the council as someone has complained of one of the garages at the back (the one belonging to the neighbours) being filled with black bags of rubbish including food waste. We never go round the back but sure enough there it is, an entire garage full to the brim with bin bags and it stinks. A rat haven.

“We previously had to complain to environmental health because they left their car on the street unused for so long it was covered in thick green mold and that got taken away. We are going to be stuck here forever because of them, aren’t we?”

People were quick to offer advice to the distressed mum, sympathising and letting her know that there were things she could do to help.

One wrote: “Environmental health again I would imagine? Sounds b***** awful.”

Another suggested her local MP, commenting: “Sorry you’re going through this. Have you tried speaking with your local elected member? Either a councilor or MP – perhaps even ideally, both? Sounds like the pressure needs to be put on for action here and everything has been light touch before now.”

Someone else suggested a building manager could sort something out, writing: “Does the block of flats have a management company? Someone must be maintaining the block. Can you raise it with them?

“If not then I’d would be the council environmental health you need to speak to. But a flat can’t be condemned because it is untidy/smelly sadly. If the shared communal space is clean the council may say it’s fine, just to give you a heads up.

“But my guess is there must be someone managing the block. Like who do you go to if the exterior doors stop working or the roof falls through?”

If you’re struggling with a similar situation, please do not suffer in silence. Environmental health advice varies between councils, but for more general advice, visit Environmental Protection UK.