Rat infestation and 'vile' smell left mum sleeping on the sofa

A family have had their lives "turned upside down" after their home became plagued with rats.

The mother and son claim the infestation, along with the mould and damp inside their council house in Llantwit Major, has had a toll on their physical and mental health.

Sue Barratt said the rodents in the attic above the bedroom and the "vile" smell resorted to her sleeping on the sofa in the living room.

Vale of Glamorgan Council said a they have deployed a specialist contractor to clear the vermin and that follow-up options were being "carefully" monitored.

Sue, 62, and her son Ross Ferguson, 23, have lived in the council house near the Bristol Channel coast for around five years.

Sue said she heard the rats in the cavities and "one had died" in there.

"The stench of it smelled like methane gas. I've not been able to go up and sleep in my bedroom."

Since the beginning of the infestation in December of last year, Ms Barratt has had to resort to sleeping on her sofa in the living room due to the rats in the attic.

She called the smell "vile" and "disgusting."

Ross added: "Every time I come home and hear about the rats, it's just disgusting to hear and it feels like I don't want to stay in this place anymore.

"It's disgraceful and it's also affecting my mental health when I'm smelling the dead rat in the cavity.

"It feels like I just want to be sick."

Sue said their home had been riddled with issues since they moved into the property, adding: "There's not a month that goes by where I'm not phoning the council to report something" .

"We just can't live like this anymore, it's detrimental to our physical and mental health, all I want to know is where is our duty of care?" she said.

Other problems at the property include damp and mould, as well as issues with the boiler and windows.

She said that these problems have "totally turned our lives inside out and upside down".

Vale of Glamorgan Council said its housing team has been working with the tenant since last December and after successful treatment for rodents were now using a specialist contractor to watch in case any rats returned before removing the loft insulation.

"The contractor has kept our tenant informed of all progress and intended further actions," said a spokesperson.

"We have discussed with the tenant the most appropriate approach to address any potential rodent carcasses within the property. This includes explaining that opening up cavity walls is not recommended, as it can be highly disruptive."

It said its priority was to ensure the issue was fully resolved and that any follow-up works were carried out "at the right time and in the most effective way".

It added: "This includes a period of careful monitoring before progressing with the roof insulation replacement works to provide a lasting solution for the resident."