A woman dealing with a rodent infestation at her home says she's at 'breaking point'. Maggie McGurrin, 58, says she feels like 'packing up and moving into a tent' because of the disgusting problem at her shared ownership property.
She says she's been trying to get it sorted for 15 months. Maggie claims mouse droppings have fallen through the loft hatch in her bedroom - and that she has been left breathing in the stench of rodent urine from the attic.
Maggie, who previously worked in client support for law firms, has been at her home in Kittybert Avenue, Abbey Hey, Gorton for 13 years.
She owns 25 per cent of the property, with the remaining 75 pc in the hands of housing provider Arcon Housing, which is owned by Bolton at Home. Maggie said she has various debilitating health conditions.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features
She claims Arcon Housing have made two 'very inept' visits, which haven't solved the problem. She has enlisted a private pest control service.
Arcon Housing bosses have now said they will take further measures and carry out follow-up pest control visits.
"With my mental health issues at times, I've felt like not living in the world," Maggie told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "It's my beloved French bulldog Jakey Moon who's kept me going.
"You just feel like you're so alone with it. I don't have any family. I just felt awful, like I should just pack up, get a tent and go and live under a tree."
In February, Maggie says she suffered a bout of severe Covid. She said: "It was winter, so I was in bed with the windows closed and was breathing in the stench of urine-soaked insulation.
"Arcon Housing has been aware of this issue for 15 months and have had three separate reports indicating where the source of the problem is coming from. They have done the bare minimum to resolve this issue.
"You work all your life to buy something and are sold this fabulous dream, but it's been disgraceful. I have my own insurance for rodents, but it's been so bad that I've exhausted the maximum number of visits under my policy.
"The housing association floundered around until last November and since then, they've made two very inept visits – which haven't solved the problem."
A spokesperson for Arcon Housing said: "Problems with mice affecting two of our shared ownership properties in Kittybert Avenue, Gorton, were first reported to us in October 2022. The properties were treated by pest control services but the issue returned in March this year.
"We worked with the council to have dumped rubbish that was attracting vermin to the area removed from an alleyway next to the properties. A deep clean of the alleyway was also undertaken and we arranged for further vermin treatment of the affected homes.
"We have since received a report that the issue with mice has persisted for one of our customers and we are visiting them to assist in accessing follow-up pest control services.
"We are also carrying out external inspections of walls, rooflines and drains on the affected properties to ensure there are no gaps or holes where rodents are gaining access. If there are any issues, we will fix them."
