A mother of two has initiated legal action against her local council over the poor state of their council home, which a pest control inspection deemed unfit for human habitation.
The family say they feel “depressed” living in the damp, rat-infested property and are urgently seeking to be rehoused by the council.
Ms Eniola, who has chosen not to disclose her first name, has lived in the Neasden property since 1992. She currently shares the home with her adult daughter and severely disabled son.
She first alerted Brent Council to the hazardous conditions in 2022 but says her concerns have been repeatedly overlooked.
Ms Eniola has now launched legal proceedings over ongoing repair problems, which reportedly include damaged sewage pipes allowing rats to enter, pervasive damp and mould, and a broken kitchen sink that causes “foul smells” to spread throughout the house, according to her claim.
‘Rats, damp, mould – this council house is killing my family’
In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Ms Eniola expressed her distress: “My family is struggling to breathe inside the house. We have rat bites all over our bodies, and there’s no clean drinking water because the kitchen sink is broken.
“My son’s asthma has deteriorated significantly, and he’s had to be taken to the emergency room. We’re all constantly exposed to black mould, and it’s causing us deep emotional distress. This council home is harming my family, and I refuse to suffer in silence any longer.”
Since raising concerns over three years ago, Ms Eniola says the council has sent several surveyors to inspect the property, but their reports have never been acted upon. She explained, “[The council] claim they have no record of the inspections and simply schedule new ones. In one year alone, six surveyors visited, yet none of the reports were acknowledged.”
On November 12, 2024, Brent Council’s pest control team inspected the home and confirmed a “rodent infestation.” According to a report obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the officer described the property as “fully infested with mice and rats,” with mould and dampness having “taken over the entire house,” rendering it uninhabitable. Although the report contains a typographical error in the phrase “inhabitable for humans,” it clearly states the house is “not fit to live in.”
The report concludes: “Due to the current rodent infestation, mould, and damp issues, it is strongly recommended that tenants be relocated, especially given the vulnerability of the son. The entire property requires refurbishment to address the longstanding mould and rodent problems.”
Ms Eniola has decided to pursue legal action, saying she is “fed up with being ignored” and believes the home is beyond repair. She added, “The council has shown little interest in fixing the problem because the necessary repairs are costly.
“I fear for my life—who will care for my disabled son if something happens to me? I want to leave Brent for good and start fresh somewhere else. Brent Council has caused immense distress by keeping us in unsafe housing despite clear warnings.”
The LDRS contacted Brent Council for comment but was informed they could not respond due to ongoing legal proceedings. Ms Eniola’s lawyers are reportedly waiting for a hearing date at the county court.
Source – Ham & High, August 2025
