Tenant hits out at lack of action over insect infestation
DEALWITH IT, SAYS LANDLORD
A HOUSING association tenant is locked in a row with his landlord after creepycrawlies invaded his home.
Peter Harrison, who lives in flats on Waterloo Street in Newcastle, claims his home has been taken over by silverfish, which he believes live in the block’s ventilation system.m.
The 48-year-oldar-old has said he has even spotted d the tiny creatures in his bed but that landlord, Placeslaces for People, is refusingefusing to take responsionsibility.
Mr Harrisonon claims he paidid £62 for thehe infestation to be dealt withth after Placeses for People toldld him to dealeal with the issuesue himself.
But now that the bugs have returned, he says he doesn’t wantt to be constantly forkingng out cash for a problem he believes is down to the building.
He said: “It’s horrible, just awful. I am bleaching everything and washing laundry constantly in a boil wash to try and get rid of them.
“It’s not that I am dirty, it is nothing at all to do with that – it’s because of the property itself.”
Mr Harrison’s husband Josh Harrison, 22, is blind and Peter is worried he could get into bed with the bugs or they could climb onto knowing. “It’s just awful to think that – I just want rid of them,” he said. Mr Harrison has lived in the flat for four and a half years, although he did also live in the same block in the 1990s and recalls that silverfish were an issue then. “I lived in this block back in the 1990s and it was a problem them. Back then, all I would have to do is report it and someone would come and spra spray the place with disinfectant and that was the end of it – I w would never have to pay a penny,” said Mr H Harrison. Silve Silverfish are small wingless inse insects which thr thrive in damp en environments. A spokespe person for Pl Places for Pe People said de dealing with pe pests is the res responsibility of theth tenant. The They said: “Places for People is commi committed to providing hom homes where customers feel happy and safe to live. We are so sorry that Mr Harrison currently feels we are falling short. “However, as per his tenancy agreement, Mr Harrison is responsible for any pest control issues within his home. “We have offered advice on how Mr Harrison can source a local pest control company. If there is an issue within a communal area we would ask Mr Harrison to report this to us and we will take prompt action.” his clothes without him