Woman says rats 'ruined everything' in her home

Merrily Sanders says she has been forced to live with her son in Tavistock because of the ongoing issue

A woman says she has been driven out of her Cornwall home after an 18-month fight to tackle a rat infestation that has destroyed parts of her house.

Merrily Sanders, of Launceston, said the rats had "ruined everything" in her home on Moorland Road, forcing her to move in with her son. She said the rats had gnawed through her garden fence, walls, flooring, bathroom and kitchen.

She feels let down by her housing association and said the stress had affected her mental health.

The Guinness Partnership apologised and said the condition of the gardens of neighbouring properties had attracted the rats. It said contractors had attended to carry out pest control and further visits had been arranged.

It added the neighbouring gardens had also now been cleared, and potential access points to Ms Sanders property had been blocked.

Ms Sanders says her kitchen was ruined by the rodents

Ms Sanders explained there were droppings everywhere, her electricity was tripping and her kitchen completely ruined.

She said the infestation had prevented her from having her grandchildren visit and left her feeling like the housing association "don't care" and "don't take it seriously".

Ms Sanders says she first reported the issue to the Guinness Partnership a year ago.

"I've been on out-of-hours emergency calls but nobody has been out to me, they don't care."

She added: "I should not have to live and rely on living in other peoples houses. I want to be safe in my own house."

Her fridge was damaged and caused food to go off, she says

The Guinness Partnership said: "We are sorry Ms Sanders has had problems with rats in her home.

"We recognise the impact this situation has had on Ms Sanders and did offer her hotel accommodation while the problem was being treated, which she declined."

It added: "As some of Ms Sanders' belongings were damaged when the rats were in her home, we have also made a payment to Ms Sanders as a goodwill gesture."

It said the situation would be kept under review.