A FAMILY-OF-SIX is forced to eat on their living room floor as their kitchen is infested with mice.
Mum Falhado Eders, her husband and their four children also all sleep on one mattress in the same room because every inch of the “disgusting” two-bedroom council flat is riddled with damp.
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And the bathroom is almost off-limits as it reportedly leaks five times a week.
Mum Falhado, 32, who shares the home with her partner and kids Yussuf, 12, Leben, seven, Yasmin, five, and seven-month-old Qaseeda, told HullLive: “It is just a nightmare.
“I try to keep the flat clean but it is just impossible.”
The family, originally from Somalia, moved into the property in Hull when they arrived in the UK nine years ago.
And while the first few months passed smoothly, the problems soon started – and they have worsened ever since.
Falhado said: “At first all the damp started to come through the walls and then mice started appearing from random holes around the flat.
“It was just disgusting.”
Son Yussuf added: “Mice are just running around everywhere.
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“We have tried to put mice traps but there are too many of them. We even found them on our bed.”
There are so many rodents that all six family members now eat and sleep on a mattress in the living room – leaving them desperate to move out.
“I don’t want my children to feel left out so I cook everything for them and we eat on the floor in the living room,” Falhaldo said.
“Me and my kids cannot breathe in the bedroom as the damp is everywhere.
“It would be better if we slept outside – at least we wouldn’t have to breathe this dirt in.
“I get so afraid the mice will bite my baby at night.
“We have not slept well in a long time and it breaks my heart to see my kids suffering like this.”
It is just a nightmare.
Mum Falhado Eders
Falhaldo said she has repeatedly reported the issues, including leaks in the bathroom which spurt four or five times a week, to the council but “they just don’t seem to care”.
Hull City Council has since said it would contact the mum about the maintenance and would work to find the family a new home.
A spokesperson confirmed it was first alerted to mice droppings in 2017 and treated damp with a “fungal wash” in January, but insisted it had no record of any reports of leaks.
They added: “No further repairs were identified. Consequently, we are contacting (the tenant) to arrange an appointment for contractors to attend.
“The only ‘live’ request we have for repairs is for our contractor to look at cold draughts coming through the front door, and an appointment has already been arranged for May 17.
“It was explained to her that the council charged to resolve rodent infestation problems and advice was given about how she could resolve the issue herself.
“With regard to moving to a larger house, (the tenant) is on our Assisted Bid list, which means that the Homesearch team helps her to submit her bids.
“Since December 2021, she has requested bids on just five properties, none of which were successful.
“The Homesearch team has tried to get in touch with her several times by phone and letter to encourage her to engage with them about her housing situation and so they can support her further with the bidding process.”
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