Rats plague Maidstone family home for seven years
The Hayward family are living in a caravan because of rats
in their home in Quarry Road,
Maidstone
by Anna White
A family will have to leave their house for exterminators to
finally evict rats - who have been unwanted house guests for the
past seven years.
Alex Hayward and his wife Donna have endured more than 80 months
of listening to rodents scurry across their floorboards, clearing
up droppings and stomaching the disgusting stench of their dead
bodies.
They have repeatedly complained to Golding Homes about the
problem at their home in Quarry Road, Maidstone.
Work has been carried out on several occasions to stop the rats
from entering
"‘They had put talcum powder down to prove the rats were there..." – Alex Hayward
the
property, but the creatures have gnawed through every solution.
In November 2011, things became so bad the family had to seek
refuge in a caravan on their driveway because of the rats.
Mr Hayward, 40, who has been signed off work with depression
because of the ordeal, said: "It's just beyond a joke now. I've
been arguing with Golding Homes for years and years and they have
never treated it as serious.
"At times I've felt like they haven't believed me as they had
put talcum powder down to prove the rats were there."
The final straw for the dad-of-five was last week when he
pulled out three dead rats from under the living room floor.
After ripping up the floorboards, he went to the housing
provider's offices and refused to move until a worker was sent to
relay the floorboards.
Traps set ready for the
next rat at the Hayward family home, which has had a rat problem
for seven years
Jillie Smithies, Golding Homes' director of operations, said:
"We are working with Mr Hayward and his family to resolve this
problem as quickly as possible, and have offered them a temporary
home while we carry out the necessary investigations and remedial
work to their property."
The couple live with their children one-year-old Ruby, Daisy,
nine, Jessica, 13 and MaCcauley, 17.
Their eldest child, Easha, 19, moved out as she could no longer
cope with the unwanted guests. They have been offered a place in
Coxheath.
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16/11/12
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