Last month, we reported on the rat infestation at Manorview and Blize Courts in Whyteleafe. We spoke to residents about how it was affecting their lives, as well as pressing housing association L&Q Group for answers, and asking MP Claire Coutinho to help.
We’re now checking back to find out whether the situation has changed since the article was published. Claire’s office provided us with a list of concerns they raised with L&Q, together with the responses, which we showed to Emma Schönwälder, who lives in Manorview Court. She says that they had a visit from their L&Q area manager on 13 February, and various actions have been taken:
“Mesh wiring has been put up in the bin store but we’re still waiting for the wooden doors to be replaced with metal ones. They’ve also started to cut back the vegetation where the rats were nesting. The pest control service came at the end of January and put down more rat traps and poison blocks, but nobody has been back to collect the carcasses, which are now rotting in the traps, with maggots spilling out of them. There are also dead rats in locked cupboards, which smell revolting.
We’re waiting for the results of a meeting the area housing manager had with the pest controllers and the groundskeeping team on 22 February, but in the meantime we’re at risk from disease – it’s unacceptable.
We’re still being told that we’re going to be charged for pest control, and we’ve continually asked why, as none of this is our fault, but all L&Q will say is ‘you’ve left rubbish on the floor which is encouraging the rats’. We haven’t, actually: the only time that happened was during Covid, when the bins weren’t collected. Anyway, the rats can still access the bins because there are no lids!
The Housing Ombudsman agrees that what has happened here has been appalling and is taking on our case.”
An L&Q spokesperson said:
“We’re sorry residents continue to experience issues with rodents. We’ve put a comprehensive programme in place to do everything we can to tackle the problem.
Following our decision to replace the wooden doors with metal doors we are now also having the bin lids themselves replaced. In recent weeks additional baiting and installation of mesh wire to the windows in the car park has also begun.
We met with the cleaning and grounds contractors on 22 February to inspect the bin areas and review the cleaning schedule. We also met with residents who said that the measures we have put in place are having a positive effect.
We’ve identified issues with failed refuse collections due to vehicles parking in front of the bin stores, which has contributed to issues with rats. Line markings and ‘no parking’ signs are in place on the kerbside and in front of the bin stores. We are also working with the highways department to help us with further parking restrictions to ensure regular collections go ahead.
We understand residents’ concerns and appreciate their patience and understanding. We are meeting with residents to reassure them we are listening to them and taking appropriate action.”
Emma added:
“L&Q weren’t listening to us, so we really appreciate the Tandridge Independent and Claire Coutinho stepping in to support us. We now just need the whole rat situation to be over, especially before the heat of summer comes.”
