Couple unable to sleep as home overrun by 'German cockroaches' crawling up walls
A couple have described their “sickening” living situation, after a plague of 'German cockroaches' in their highrise flat have left them fearing for their health and unable to sleep.
Louise Brown, 40, and her partner Daren Devries, 49, say their health has significantly deteriorated since moving into the council-owned flat in Edinburgh. The pair moved into the apartment in Cobbinshaw House South in February this year but soon made a revolting discovey.
On waking up one night, they found dozens of cockroaches were crawling up their walls during the night. Louise says she now has around 40 cockroaches in a box under her fridge and says she is kept awake all night due to the fear of where the beasties are, Edinburgh Live reports.
The pair say they have been struggling to breathe since moving into the council owned property, despite constantly working sanitising every unit and cupboard in the flat multiple times a day. The couple both suffer from serious health conditions and Louise said her doctor has written to the council outlining the impact her living situation is having on her health.
They said the bugs are absolutely everywhere at night (Edinburgh Live / Media Scotland)Having moved multiple times in the last four years, Louise says she and Daren have been offered an alternative flat by the council - except it's in the same building. The mum-of-two claims when they went to view the flat on the other side of the building, her housing officer came clean and said there had also been similar reports of cockroaches in the flats above.
London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard
"I'd rather sleep in a tent as it would actually be cleaner," Louise said. "I just can't believe it. When we moved in we obviously saw them one night I got up for a drink during the night as I have PTSD and they were all over the fridge.There were loads of them - I got it on video. I got in touch with my son who looked into what they could be and identified them as German cockroaches so I told my housing officer who said they are aware of it - I couldn't believe it.
"They know we have breathing problems so why move us in to a flat on the high floor that has cockroaches. Two people underneath are refusing to treat their homes so they will keep coming back. We're having to move our bed as we're struggling to breathe and they know we're vulnerable so why not say?"
Louise and Daren fear if they move to the alternative flat, which is located on the other side of the building, the same problem will follow them and their clothes and belongings may already been infested. She says the council 'weren't taking them seriously' until their doctor wrote a letter detailing the impact the situation is having on their health. Louise says she suffered a collapsed lung as the result of aspiration pneumonia and needed a mini thoracotomy, a form of minimal evasive heart surgery.
She continued: "We've got a box under the fridge with about 40 cockroaches in it as they come from the skirting. I can't eat, I can't sleep and I can't rest because I think something is going to happen to me and my partner. The house is actually unliveable and old fashioned. I spent four and a half years in temporary accommodation and obviously when I got the council house I was excited to do it up but now this situation means I'm getting blocked at every avenue.
I just don't know what else I'm meant to do. They're coming out with sticky boxes to put under the fridge but I said what about the water supply? They're getting into cupboards and where the water is so I'm scared to drink the water and shower. They're obviously saying to move but the eggs could be in our clothes or anywhere so the same problem could easily follow us to the other flat across the other side of the building."
Louise says the bugs are only active at night and she feels "sickened" thinking about how long she could have gone without noticing them if she didn't get up for a drink the night she first saw them. The pair have both reportedly been coming out in 'red rashes' after finding themselves being itchy all over. "We clean our kitchen and sanitise the bunkers about ten times a day now and won't eat until we make sure we've gone through all the cupboards," Louise added.
"I know this isn't right and the council should be making people aware. Within four weeks of us moving in here my partner was in hospital with a lung infection. My breathing is going really raspy at night but the whole situation just makes me feel sick thinking about it and what could be going on when we're asleep."
Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “I sympathise greatly with this family, and I understand the issue must be causing a lot of stress. We’re doing our best to support them and address the problem as quickly as possible. It is never easy having to move home, even when it’s for a short spell to allow work to be carried out. It causes a lot of upheaval, so we’ve done our best to assist with this. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to secure a nearby property for the family and really hope to see them move back soon.
“This week we’ve also been visiting other homes in the building, providing letters to all residents to gain access to identity and treat any problems that haven’t been reported already. We want to put an end to the issues tenants have been experiencing, for good."
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