Tenants at a retirement housing block say they’ve been unable to “get on with their lives” due to an ongoing bed bug infestation.

KentOnline has spoken to several residents of Warren Court, in Dartford, some of which have been forced to move flats and throw out furniture.

They claim the problems started at the end of last year but Dartford council, which is responsible for the shared housing complex, says it was only made aware of the issues in July.

A spokesperson confirmed work is ongoing with a specialist pest control contractor to eradicate the bugs and complete more treatments in a bid to “help control the situation”.

However, those living in the flats say the situation has left them on “tenterhooks” and claim they have received no indication of when it is likely to be fully resolved.

Phill Smith, who moved into the building in November, said: “Every single day, I am checking for bed bugs everywhere. Everyone is looking for them.

“We are all washing more than normal, we are checking everything frantically, and it is stopping our community here from meeting.

“We live here all the time; it is our home. The staff can go home at five o’clock and get on with their lives, but we can’t.

“I do not think it has been handled well. It is not like one individual has had an infestation; it is the whole block.

“It is shocking. Everyone is on tenterhooks, and our mental health is being affected.

“Our biggest issue is that the council will not talk to us or discuss anything about how we can get this problem solved. None of us knows what is going on.”

Zena House, who has lived in Warren Court for eight years, added: “I live on my own, and meeting with the other residents has been my saviour, but we have not been able to do that as the communal areas are closed.

“It is horrendous. I think it is absolutely atrocious what has been done here. They are dealing with people’s lives, and the council is just passing the buck.”

Warren Court is a housing scheme for older people run by Dartford council with wardens and communal areas including a lounge, garden and laundry room.

It is understood the living room has been closed for more than 12 weeks while pest control teams attempt to eradicate the problem.

Meanwhile, other residents have been moved into guest rooms while their flats are fumigated and have been told to sign a letter confirming they will throw out and replace all their furniture.

Michael Lakin is one of the people who has had to replace his furniture several times after his room was affected.

The 72-year-old explained he had the pest control teams round four times before they finally gave him the all clear.

He said: “I am now OCD with everything. All I am doing is constantly cleaning as I want them gone.

“I am always on the lookout for bed bugs now. I am just spraying and spraying and spraying to get rid of them.

“No one told me this problem existed last year, and now it has been going on for six months. I do not think it has been handled properly.”

A Dartford council spokesperson confirmed that it was made aware of the “bed bug infestation” in July, when a resident reported the issue inside their home.

They added: “Since then, we have taken advice from a specialist pest control contractor and carried out many treatments in order to eradicate the bed bugs.

“Sadly, they have spread further and wider across the scheme, and we are now completing more treatments and working with residents to help control the situation.

“We appreciate how distressing and frustrating this must be for the residents, and whilst ordinarily pest control would be the tenants’ responsibility, we recognise the severity of this particular situation, and have taken over to ensure that it is dealt with robustly.”