Suing The Council Because Of Bed Bugs

[TPengalicciouss]

I am in 1 room with 4 children in a hostel. We have bed bugs and it was treated by pest control on Friday. I was not moved out of the room and Saturday morning I had to call an Ambulance because my throat was swollen and I was bitten from head to toe and could not stop scratchin. The maintenance company did not change the bed either. I have continued to bring bitten since, it is now Sunday. I feel as though I have been beaten up. I have been in this hostel for 4 months with shared facilities, in 1 room with 4 children; 4months-10 years. Can I Sue the council for negligence??

[murraymints]

Contact social services and housing department...with young children you should be given priority for attention

[Maydup]

I doubt you can sue them for negligence, but you can look for more help. As Murray suggested, get the children to school on Monday and go directly to the council housing dept in person and ask for some more help with the infestation; and also an idea of how soon they might be able to find you more suitable accommodation. If you dont get anywhere contact social services.

In the meantime, can you get anything yourself to spray on the mattress today?

[johnny.5]

ask the school to refer you to social services because the children are always tired and can not concentrate / fall asleep during lessons

[bednobs]

How do you know the children can't concentrate and fall asleep during lessons. I doubt the school are going ti lie if it's not true:) anyway how will u afford to sue the council? How will they afford to pay you anything if you 'win'? Clue: by taking away money from other services such as temporary accomodation

[Buenchico]

I regard the idea of suing the council as a non-starter simply because there's no legal aid available for such cases, so you'd need many thousands of pounds to take legal action against the council. (If you lost the case you'd then have to pay thousands of pounds more to pay the council's legal costs).

A more realistic way to jolt the council into action is to get your local press involved in your campaign for better conditions. Journalists love stories like yours but council officials hate bad publicity.

[TPengalicciouss]

Thank you guys!! I actually do have a Social Worker but, because my kids aren’t at risk as such, she is not doing much! I’ve had it sprayed and I researched that bed bugs hate Tea Tree Oil with water and Alcohol. I sprayed it on the bed and brought numerous itching creams and The swellings from head to toe have reduced considerably. I spoke to my local MP’s office today and, I will be contacting the papers this evening/tomorrow. Super sick of this!!! Bednobs: the condemned temporary accommodation they have put us in (1 room) costs more money than a 3 bedroom house.

[bednobs]

So? Rent a 3 bedroom house then

[murraymints]

have you spoken to the housing dept ?

[maggiebee]

Bednobs, please don't be so helpful in the future. Your answers beggar belief. I'm all right Jack.

[bednobs]

Glad you are OK jack! It is not an ideal situation of course but to consider suing the council who have housed you when you presumably needed it seems utterly crazy to me. Councils do not have unlimited funds and surely you agree that money would be better spent on having improved facilities in the first place rather than compensating people for making them ill? How will suing the council actually help the op anyway?

[maggiebee]

The point I was making was in response to your post //So? Rent a 3 bedroom house then// Inane comment under the circumstances.

[TPengalicciouss]

Bednobs: you must be sitting pretty somewhere??! That’s why you can be so blasé! If you had an accident due to others negligence, with your big mouth, you would be as quick to stick up for yourself? Or would you really say “well as long as everything is still ticking away and, everyone else is fine and dandy, I will happily go die in the corner!”.............?

[bednobs]

But you haven't died. Perhaps you could explain to me how suing the council would help them , you or other people in your position?

[TPengalicciouss]

I was swollen from head to toe, my throat closed up due to the stress, I went to the hospital in an Ambulance.

[murraymints]

Suing is a non viable option.....get onto soc services and housing ...you have young kids

[bednobs]

7 yes I got that and it was crappy for you but how will suing the council help? You can't turn back time with money (yet)

[AuntLydia]

bednobs // You can't turn back time with money (yet)//

No but it would help get a deposit together to get a privately rented house.

[ummmm]

Surely it's the hostels fault.

[AuntLydia]

I agree 'suing' the council is not the answer. The council should rehouse the OP as soon as possible. If they can't provide social housing then they should provide the security deposit so she can move to private rental. There are Charities that will provide a security deposit directly to the landlord, the OP should enquire about this and become more proactive in finding accommodation. 4 people in one room for 4 months is not acceptable.