A resident of Renown Close in the Handcroft Road Estate in West Croydon has been dealing with a severe mouse infestation in her kitchen due to delays in essential repairs caused by an admin error. The tenant, who remains anonymous for safety reasons, has been facing deteriorating conditions in her kitchen for years, leading to a rampant mouse problem. The situation escalated when repair work finally began, revealing the extent of the infestation.
The tenant had missed several repair appointments because the council had an outdated phone number on file for her. Despite her efforts to get the necessary repairs done, including contacting Croydon council and their contractors, Wates, it took years for the work to commence. The resident believes that the mice are coming from the bin store beneath her flat, with the contractors discovering a significant issue when they lifted the floorboards.
In an attempt to address the infestation, the tenant resorted to using poison traps and even purchased a frequency emitter, but the mice persisted. The main mouse entry points have now been sealed, but the tenant expressed frustration over the long wait for repairs, attributing part of the delay to the authorities not updating her contact information.
The lack of communication resulted in subcontractors showing up unannounced and ill-prepared for the repair work, causing further inconvenience to the tenant. The council acknowledged the resident’s ordeal and stated that pest control measures have been implemented to address the rodent issue. They assured that efforts are being made to complete the necessary repairs promptly.
The resident emphasized the importance of ensuring accurate contact information to prevent similar issues in the future. Despite updating her details with the council, the outdated phone number continued to be used, leading to complications in scheduling and carrying out the repairs. The council has since rectified the situation by updating the resident’s contact information in their system.
As the repairs progress, the resident hopes for a swift resolution to restore her kitchen to a habitable condition. The communication mishap serves as a reminder of the significance of up-to-date contact details and effective coordination between tenants and housing authorities to prevent such challenges from arising in the future. The case highlights the impact of administrative errors on residents’ living conditions and emphasizes the need for improved communication protocols to ensure timely and efficient resolution of housing issues.
