A mum says she's been terrorised by rats which are making her feel like a prisoner in her own home.

Michelle Thompson, 46, is being driven to distraction by rodents runnning up and down pipes in her home.

And she's growing increasingly anger at being able to find no-one who can solve her problems for her and is in dispute with her landlord about whose responsibility it is to get rid of the rats.

Michelle, of Dalegarth Avenue, Mirehouse, Whitehaven, said: "I can't leave my windows open. I can't leave my doors open. I'm a prisoner in my own home now because of these rats.”

Michelle moved to the house owned by national social housing landlord, Home Group, in January last year.

Although she did not want to move she was forced to because of the so-called bedroom tax. She lived in her previous house for 17 years, brought up her children there and made many memories.

Of leaving, she said: “It was heart wrenching, gut wrenching. The memories in that house are like woo-hoo. A lot went on.”

The rats, which were initially outside her house on the road, added to her distress of moving house.

Copeland Council sorted the problem outside but now the rats have made a new home in her pipes.

“I can hear them,” she said. “I thought I was going nuts but I have brought next door in and she said they are in your house now.”


Michelle initially contacted Copeland council about the issue.

The council has a statutory due to investigate all rat sightings but say that if the problem has extended to a property and if something structural within the property has caused the rats to enter, like damage to a sewer pipe, then it's up to the homeowner or social landlord to repair it to prevent rats going in.

Michelle said she didn't know how the rats had got into her sewer system or if any of the pipes were damaged.

Although the council said Home Group, or the home owner, has to repair the damage that is causing the rats to enter the property, it explained that neither the council or social landlord have a statutory duty to get rid of the rats.

A Home Group spokesman said: “We appreciate vermin infestations are unpleasant however it is a customer's responsibility to deal with this. This is clearly outlined in all tenancy agreements and our website.”

But Michelle is adamant that there is nothing in her tenancy agreement about pest control. She thinks Home Group should take the responsibility of rats in their home a

“I want somebody to help,” said Michelle.

“They're going to damage the inside of my house now with their scratching at the floor boards.”