Bristol Family Suffering with Maggot-Infested Social Housing Flat Since 2017

A Bristol family have recently lobbied outside their housing association’s office in a bid to receive help with a long-running maggot and fly infestation after more than 5 years of ignored complaints.

Jess and Wesley Rumble-Bear first complained about rubbish left outside their flat, leading to maggots crawling into brick vents in 2017. Since then, the problem has apparently only worsened as the family claims to have been "stonewalled" by Sovereign Housing Association (SNG), despite recommendations from pest control professionals to lift the flooring to investigate urgently.

Insect infestations

Insect infestations can significantly affect a resident’s quality of life and pose dangerous health risks if left untreated. An ongoing infestation is often an indicator of more significant underlying building disrepair.

Recognising the significant health risks the Rumble-Bear family is under, a spokesperson from tenants' union ACORN said, "The threat of sepsis carried by maggots is a constant terror for their family." And with a young baby in the flat, Jess said that the child is “crawling through filth.”

In 2020, the couple noticed maggots coming through the skirting boards and filed another complaint to SNG. Over the next five years, they repeatedly reported the problem, but nobody was sent out to investigate. Jess continued, "I don’t feel safe. I don’t feel heard. I’m scared every day… my husband has been reporting the flies since 2020 - he’s never believed. It’s hard to watch him try so hard for us and be bashed constantly.”

A landlord’s responsibility to keep tenants safe

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, tenants have the right to live in a property that is fit for human habitation at the beginning of their tenancy and throughout. This requires private and social landlords to act on complaints within a reasonable timeframe and act on anything that is a risk to health and safety.

A landlord failing to act within a reasonable timeframe may cause tenants serious health and safety risks, like those posed by infestations of any animal or insect. The Social Housing (Regulation) Act, passed in 2023, is designed to enable fair resolutions for tenant complaints further and drive landlords to meet higher standards for tenant safety. Increased regulations mean that landlords that do not protect tenants from serious harm due to disrepair and hazards in their home such as infestations and structural compromise will face significant penalties.

In July, a pest controller visited the family and advised that the floorboards needed to be taken up to investigate the source. A week later a member of SNG visited the property but refused to lift the floorboards and therefore prompted no further action to years long complaints they had received from the family. Left in a desperate situation, Wesley asked, “How many other people are going through this, or been through this, without any resolution?”

Progressing a complaint with the Housing Ombudsman

After considerable public pressure and exposure, a spokesperson from SNG confirmed that the case has been passed to Environmental Health for an independent assessment, promising that, as a "responsible landlord", they would work to address the results.

However, tenants should not have to wait years and years for a resolution, and it is their right to seek alternative ways to progress a complaint if their landlord is unresponsive and is not meeting legal obligations. If a social housing provider (either a housing association like SVG, or a council landlord) has failed to provide a safe and habitable environment, then tenants can contact the Housing Ombudsman service (HOS) or seek legal advice for a housing disrepair claim.

HOS is an independent and impartial public body that can action long-overdue complaints relating to tenant and landlord disputes. Tenants may also be able to claim compensation for stress, damage or damage to their belongings caused by unresolved repairs.

Premier Legal Assist are on hand to help.

If you are a social housing tenant living in disrepair, which results in infestation in your home, and your landlord has refused to act or has not acted within a reasonable timeframe, you may be entitled to make a claim.  

Premier Legal Assist can connect you with a team of specialist housing disrepair lawyers who operate on a 'no-win, no-fee' basis. Our panel of specialist housing lawyers has years of experience dealing with local councils and housing associations across the UK.

To find out if you may be eligible to make a 'no-win, no-fee' claim, complete our short form.