A mother of two from Handsworth has been living in a temporary home plagued by mice, mould, and disrepair for five years, and says she can no longer endure the conditions. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims the property has suffered from persistent issues since she moved in in 2017, including toilet and pipe leakages near electrical units, exposed wires, recurrent mice infestations, and an overgrown garden where broken white goods were dumped.
She told Birmingham Live: 'The infestation, mould and poor structure of the property have affected mine and my children's mental health. I can't bear to live there any more; I am fighting for my children.' The woman says she has received mixed messages from Birmingham City Council and the private lettings agency, Global Property Management, which manages the home. The council says it has issued a four-week plan to address the issues, but the woman says she hasn't heard anything about it.
Global Property Management initially denied responsibility, stating the woman is a tenant of the council and that the house was in excellent condition when she moved in, suggesting her children caused damage. A spokesperson said: 'We recommend all tenants open the windows to avoid mould. In the winter, we recommend all tenants open the windows for just one hour a day to avoid mould.' A second spokesperson added that they were negotiating with community group ACORN but could not get access to the house because the tenant would not let them in.
ACORN members protested outside the company's offices on 30 June after claiming communications broke down. Josh Allen, an ACORN Birmingham Member Defence Co-ordinator, said: 'This is yet another case of a local authority cash strapped by years of austerity... outsourcing to a private provider that they do not have the means to keep in check.' He called on the council to ensure Global Property Management provides decent, habitable homes.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'We are sorry that the tenant and their family has experienced these issues. The property is run by Global Property and an officer has now visited it and carried out a full inspection. A works schedule including treating the property for rodents has now been issued to Global Property. Access to the property has also been discussed with the tenant and a four week schedule of works to fit in with their availability has been agreed.' However, when asked if she had heard from the council since last Thursday, the woman replied: 'No, nothing.'
