‘I’ve lost my whole life’: Mum living in cockroach hell loses 10 years’ possessions
A mum and her two children who have been living in a cockroach infested home for 10 years are set to lose the majority of their possessions which cannot be saved, even with treatment.
Hayley Murray, 29, was living in a Lewisham council property in Turnham Road, Brockley, which she claims has had a cockroach infestation since she moved in, in 2012.
She featured in a video by housing activist Kwajo Tweneboa that highlighted the extent of the problem.
Many cockroaches can be seen scuttling around in various parts of the house.
🚨 Lewisham – This Lewisham Homes tenants entire home has been infested with Cockroaches for 10 years 🪳
Even their kitchen oven has been infested with them. A Thread 🧵 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/bpiWupqxWG
— KWAJO- Social Housing (@KwajoHousing) July 7, 2022
Ms Murray and the children have since been moved to temporary accommodation in the same road but, she claims, they were advised not to take any possessions with them by Lewisham Homes – the housing arm of Lewisham council – over fears the infestation could be spread.
The council has since paid for new essential items such as beds, a TV, washing machine, fridge and freezer for Ms Murray to use, which it claims is close to the value of £1,000.
But Ms Murray said the value of the possessions she will lose is much more than that and claims Lewisham Homes advised her to only take clothes with her.
She said: “I’ve lost everything I had. They have bought some new items but I’ve lost more than that. I don’t know how to put a figure on it. I’ve been in that house for 10 years.
“I’ve lost my whole life, everything in that house. I’ve got two young children, they’ve lost all their toys.
“I’m sad and depressed. I lost my job from taking too much time off work to be home for pest control appointments and I was so down I couldn’t work.”
In an email seen by the South London Press sent to Ms Murray by Lewisham Homes, the landlord said it would not send pest control to her property as no other residents in her block had complained about cockroaches.
Ms Murray added: “Mine and my children’s mental health is at an all-time low and they are scared to go back to the property.
“I am scared to go back once they say they have ‘got rid of the problem’ because I do believe it will be very difficult to get rid of them and I’m worried that I will move back in and the problem remains and then I have to go through the whole process again.”
Jon Kanareck, director of resident services for Lewisham Homes, said: “We are working closely with this tenant and their family to resolve the issues raised.
“We have carried out extensive pest control treatment to the property and the wider block. As this specific property has been affected more significantly than other homes in the block, we are carrying out additional treatment.
“While this work is carried out, we are providing the family with temporary accommodation.
“In order to avoid spreading the problem, we have provided the family with new furniture and appliances for their temporary accommodation, including new beds and bedding, a cooker, fridge freezer and TV.
“We will continue liaising with the family and working to ensure the property is completely rid of any pests, so that they are able to return to their home as soon as possible.”
Pictured top: Cockroaches found in Ms Murray’s home (Picture: Hayley Murray)