DESPERATE families on a decaying council estate are “trapped” in tower blocks infested with mice, cockroaches, bedbugs and ants.
Tenants say their flats are a “nightmare” which have been filled with pests, damp and rubbish for years with no resolution in sight.
Videos reveal mice running around in front of residents sitting on the sofa, while cockroaches run amok in the hallways and bedbugs are so common they are visible crawling across duvets.
Zahide Cinar, of Arndale Estate in Wandsworth, South London, told The Sun: “When I look out my window, all I see is rubbish people have thrown out of their windows, and they leave rubbish in the landings.
“That’s attracting mice and pests, and I’m getting treated for bedbugs as well as cockroaches.”
Mum-of-two Zahide, 43, has lived in her flat in Eliot Court for 24 years. She said the constant worry affects her mental health, as the vile pests keep returning despite pleas to the council.
“They bite, and it’s horrible. It creates a lot of anxiety, because it’s been going on for years,” she continued.
“I get my flat treated, but because the whole block’s infested, eventually they make their way back.”
She said a number of the properties are used for temporary accommodation, and some of the residents do not take care of their homes.
The stairwells are plastered with notices about rubbish being left out and reports of anti-social behaviour.
The fire alarm system also malfunctions and goes off at all hours of the day, including in the early hours of the morning.
Zahide explained the stress of the extremely loud noises and poor living conditions has affected her son’s mental health too.
“In the night time he can hear people throwing rubbish out the window, and he’s really not in a good place right now,” she said.
“He’s begging me to move, but I don’t know what to do.”
Despite evidence the flat is affecting her mental health, Zahide said the council has put her on the least urgent waiting list to get re-housed, meaning she will likely never be moved.
“I’ve sent them proof from my mental health team and my supporters saying that this flat is really impacting me severely,” she said.
“It’s making me feel hopeless, and it’s making me feel more trapped.
“Honestly, it’s just one thing after another, and sometimes I just feel like I can’t cope,” she added.
The flats also have leaks, and Zahide said a recent instance of damp on her landing was a big blow, leaving her feeling “so isolated and so trapped”.
Residents were sent a letter by Wandsworth Council in 2023 informing them that Eliot Court and neighbouring Wentworth Court would be re-cladded “to bring them in line with the latest government guidelines on high–rise buildings”, but this has not been carried out.
Another Eliot Court resident, Kristina, said she is desperate to leave the south London building but feels “stuck” because she is a leaseholder, and the value of her flat has massively decreased due to the appalling condition of the building.
She said: “I have severe anxiety about everything. We can’t really sleep, because if your skin moves, you jump, you turn the lights on and see there are bedbugs.
“You’re scared of the fire alarm, you’re scared of the bedbugs, or cockroaches or if something else is coming. This building is a nightmare.”
Kristina said the authority “ignores” the residents.
“The council doesn’t care. I’m a leaseholder, so whatever,” she continued.
“Even though I’m trying to explain this is coming from the actual building. They don’t want to listen.”
While the worst of the pests are confined to Eliot and Wentworth Court, the Albon and Edwyn House tower blocks on the same estate also suffer from an unwanted invasion: ants.
“There are ants all over the place,” said Richard Vincent, 69.
A resident of Albon House for the past three decades, he said this issue has been going on for years.
He added: “I do treat them, but the bugs are resilient. I spray all the sprays down but they come back for revenge every time.”
Other residents told the same story. Ashley Martin, 34, reported that after many attempts to get rid of the ants he does not think anything can be done.
Ashley said: “The way they work, I don’t think you’ll actually get rid of them until you knock down the whole block.”
A Wandsworth Council spokesperson apologised for the ongoing pest issues and said residents should “continue to report any further issues so our pest control teams can attend and take action”.
They added: “We’re sorry that the lift failures at Eliot Court have caused distress particularly for residents with disabilities, mobility challenges, and caring responsibilities.
“There are two lifts that serve the building, and it is rare that both lifts are unable to be used at the same time.
“They are in the process of being replaced but due to the height of the building, we require approval from the Building Safety Regulator.
“Once we receive this approval, the work can begin. If any residents require assistance, they can contact the Joint Control Centre (JCC) 24 hours a day and our Estates Services team are on hand around the clock.
“We are embarking on a £21million fire safety improvement project in the buildings, and a state-of-the-art integrated fire alarm system was installed earlier this year for further safety.
“These works include cladding removal and will also require approval from the Building Safety Regulator. We are hopeful that this can begin next year.”
The Sun has contacted the council for further comment.
Have you been affected by this issue or something similar? Email [email protected]
