Scots dad binning dead rats every day after home swamped with infestation

Get the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

Join us on WhatsApp

A Glasgow dad says he is being forced to live in inhumane conditions after his home became swamped - with a rat infestation.

Craig Lawrie, 42, says he's been been catching up to two rats a day for the past month. However, despite continuous complaints to his housing provider, Tollcross Housing Association, and environmental health interventions, he says the situation remains dire.

He says the rats continue to enter his home through gaps in the gas pipes and behind the kitchen cabinets. Craig, who lives in the Lilybank in Glasgow said: "I can't keep living like this, it's horrendous, I can't even see my boy at my place because of the problem.

"They're coming through the gas pipes and the back of the kitchen cabinets - I'm catching two every day, and I only have two traps to work with."

The dad started noticing the rats earlier this year but despite workman visiting to set multiple traps and sprays Craig says the problem remains. He says he is having to personally dispose of dead rats himself almost every day.

Craig - who has no left hand and lives off Universal Credit - said: "The housing association sent out a plumber and a joiner, but as soon as one of them a rat he ran out the house."

A joiner said that fixing the infestation would require removing the entire kitchen - though these plans have so far not been forthcoming. Despite requests for help, Craig says all that has been done is "some foam" being spread around his cabinets, but the rats keep finding their way in.

Environmental health officers also placed additional traps in his kitchen, but Craig says he is still left dealing with new rats daily.

Craig said: "I keep finding them in the cereal cupboard. My son came to get some cereal once, and a rat jumped out.
"He was so shaken that he stayed away for three weeks."

The dad also has pets in his flat and feels on constant alert - fearing for their safety as well. His frustration is amplified by his own disability, which makes it challenging for him to manage the cleaning and resetting of traps every day.

He said: "It's terrible-there's a sense that something's always lurking in the house, and you can't escape it."

Craig has continued to urge the housing association to take meaningful action, requesting that they remove the kitchen cupboards to block the entry points effectively but says they have so far been slow to respond to his requests.

He said: "Every day, I'm clearing out the traps and killing these rats myself. I feel like the housing association just doesn't care about the conditions I'm living in."

Tollcross Housing Association said: "Our policy on pest control is to work with Glasgow City Council and the tenant affected."

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.