Pensioner hospitalised by rat issue

A pensioner whose home has been plagued by rats says she has been in hospital because the stress brought on by a return of the rodents.

Newark resident Mrs Nora Pegg, 70, first contacted the Advertiser in December last year when she despaired of getting any action taken to rid her Bellmond Close home of rats after landlords Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) initially said they were not responsible for environmental health matters.

Mrs Pegg spent three nights in hospital having tests and assessment for a suspected angina attack, but doctors concluded she was suffering from stress.

After a further inspection of the property by Nottingham Community Housing Asso-ciation, Mrs Pegg said the inspector had agreed to block access to a drain, install new insulation in the attic and block off access points to keep the rats out.

“I hope these measures work. I’m hoping things will get sorted now. The housing association are taking the problem seriously,” she said.

When the couple’s home was first infested last year they spent £200 on pest control, but two rats had chewed through the outlet pipe from the bathroom toilet and then got trapped and died there. Their decomposing bodies blocked the pipe, causing sewage to flow under the flooring and creating a further nuisance from flies and maggots.

After her story appeared in the Advertiser, and with intervention from county councillor Mr Keith Girling, NCHA paid for further extermination work and installed a new bathroom.

But earlier this month the couple found the rats had returned.

Nora’s husband Anthony said: “I heard them again in the night. It’s a nightmare. For Nora, I think the stress brought on an angina attack and she was taken to hospital.”

Mrs Pegg said: “They need to do something. It’s just too much.”

Apart from the stress and the health risks, she said the couple could not afford to pay for any more private pest control.

“I was just lost. I didn’t know where to go. It took four to five months to get the problem sorted last time. I can’t go through that again.”

Matthew Score, maintenance manager at NCHA, confirmed an inspector had visited the property and they would be carrying out more preventative measures, although no new evidence of infestation had been found.

He said: “We understand how distressing pests in the home can be and have been working closely with Mr and Mrs Pegg.

“Following the initial report of an infestation last year, Mr and Mrs Pegg contacted their local council’s public health department. We subsequently carried out repairs to the bathroom.

“An NCHA inspector visited the property following concerns raised by Mr and Mrs Pegg.

“No evidence of an infestation was found, but to provide further assurance we have offered to carry out additional preventative work, which will address the soil pipe, manhole and loft insulation.”