A mum with a "mice phobia" says she is at “breaking point” claiming to see up to ten of the rodents a day at her home.
Cassie Locke, 31, from Maidstone, Kent, said she contacted her housing association Golding Homes straight away after first seeing mice droppings in 2020.
The mum-of-two said: “I’m at breaking point if I’m honest, I have a massive phobia of mice and I’m completely exhausted.
“There’s a hole in my bedroom right next to where I sleep and I can hear them crawling around and rustling all night. I don’t end up getting to sleep until three or four in the morning and I have to get up again at seven to take the kids to school.
“I’m completely exhausted and drained.”
Ms Locke claims the housing association told her it was her problem to deal with.
And despite trying to sort it herself, it has just become more severe.
“I’ve tried everything, I put down five traps just the other day and within a couple of minutes three of them went off at the same time," she said.
"I've done everything possible to resolve this issue even cementing and expanding foam the holes and laying traps daily and they are either chewing through or making other holes."
Ms Locke claims she contacted Golding Homes again as the issue continued to persist and they sent out pest control but weren’t able to solve the problem.
She said: “I feel like I’m just being fed lies. The main access hole is behind my kitchen units which Golding Homes should have been out in March to resolve but instead was just left.
“I’m worried for my kid’s health. We’ve also had untreated mould for the same amount of time and my daughter has breathing problems because of it.
“It is getting to a point where I’ve just had enough. My housing officer isn’t answering any of my calls, I feel like I’m constantly chasing them. We've had pest control out and they have said we've done all we can to try and rid the mice.
"He has laid loads of traps and poison and will be returning next week."
The whole ordeal has taken a large toll on Ms Locke's mental health.
She added: “I’m completely exhausted and drained. I’ve booked a doctor’s appointment because I’m just so unhappy where I am. I was sitting in my house crying the other day. I’m petrified all the time. I don’t like things that crawl.
“I’m not comfortable in my own home whatsoever, they’re in my bedroom, my children’s bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen – everywhere.”
Terry Spillard, assistant director of customers at Golding Homes said: “We’re really sorry for the problems Ms Locke has been experiencing and are committed to resolving them so she can live comfortably in her home.
“We’ve visited her home on previous occasions to address and treat these issues, but now they’ve reoccurred we’re arranging further visits for pest control and a damp and mould inspection. We’ll continue to work with her until these issues are resolved.”
