A Birmingham City Council tenant has been forced to live in a Travelodge hotel for nearly seven months after a sewer was discovered under her bedroom floor. The 28-year-old woman, who cares for her schoolboy brother, had been dealing with a rat infestation for six years at her Kingstanding flat. The property was deemed unsafe, and the siblings were moved into temporary accommodation.
Living conditions and costs
The tenant is paying £1,200 a month for both the hotel room and her flat. Despite being advised to move back in and bid for another property, she says this feels unrealistic given the ongoing housing crisis. She told BirminghamLive: 'I am still currently in temporary accommodation and have now been out of my property for nearly seven months following long term disrepair issues, including a rat infestation and sewer/manhole works within the property.'
Council repairs and ongoing issues
During recent works, the council replaced her kitchen and bathroom, but she says that was never her priority. 'I never wanted compensation or cosmetic upgrades, I just wanted a safe and suitable home to live in and ideally a move given the history of the property,' she explained. She has lived with rat issues since 2020 and has undergone multiple proofing attempts, two disrepair claims, involvement from the Housing Ombudsman, and her local MP. Despite all this, she does not feel confident returning due to repeated infestations and the impact on her mental wellbeing.
When she recently attended the property after being told works were complete, there were still outstanding issues and further damage caused during repairs, including damage to carpets and underlay. A permanently sealed manhole now sits in the middle of her bedroom floor, which was not there when she moved in. An unpleasant smell also remains in the property.
No compensation and high housing demand
The council has informed her that it will not provide compensation for the damage caused during the recent works. Meanwhile, she has been in temporary accommodation for nearly seven months while still paying rent and bills for her tenancy. She is Band A priority but still places very high in queues, with many others housed before her. 'I did not put myself in this situation, the condition of the property and the ongoing issues are what led to this,' she said. 'At this stage, I am exhausted by the whole process. My priority has always been stability and having somewhere I feel safe and comfortable living in.'
Birmingham City Council has been approached for comment.
