Family open up on anguish of rat infestation in their council home

Kieran Molloy Local Democracy Reporter

A family dealing with a serious rat infestation has opened up on the physical and mental toll it is having on their lives.

Sue Barratt, 62, and her son Ross Ferguson, 23, live in a council house in Llantwit Major and have been facing issues with mould, damp and, above all, an ongoing rat infestation which has turned their life upside down.

Regarding the rats, Ms Barratt said: “I’ve heard them in the cavities, one had died in the cavity.”

She continued; “The stench of it smelled like methane gas. I’ve not been able to go up and sleep in my bedroom.”

Since the beginning of the infestation in December of last year, Ms Barratt has had to resort to sleeping on her sofa in the living room.

This is because she has lost the use of her bedroom over the rats in the attic.

She continued: “It’s vile and to smell the smell that we’ve smelt is disgusting.”

Mr Ferguson said: “Every time I come home and hear about the rats, it’s just disgusting to hear and it feels like I don’t want to stay in this place anymore.

“It’s disgraceful and it’s also affecting my mental health when I’m smelling the dead rat in the cavity.

“It feels like I just want to be sick.”

Ms Barratt said: “We just can’t live like this anymore, it’s detrimental to our physical and mental health, all I want to know is where is our duty of care?”

According to Ms Barratt, since moving into the property five years ago, “there’s not a month that goes by where I’m not phoning the council to report something”.

These other problems include damp and mould as well as issues with the boiler and windows.

She said that these problems have “totally turned our lives inside out and upside down”.

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: “The council’s housing team has been working with the tenant since December 2025 and following successful treatment for rodents, we have now passed the work to our specialist contractor to watch for any return of rodents before the removal of the loft insulation.

“The contractor has kept our tenant informed of all progress and intended further actions.

“We have discussed with the tenant the most appropriate approach to address any potential rodent carcasses within the property. This includes explaining that opening up cavity walls is not recommended, as it can be highly disruptive.

“Our priority is to ensure the issue is fully resolved and that any follow-up works are carried out at the right time and in the most effective way.

“This includes a period of careful monitoring before progressing with the roof insulation replacement works to provide a lasting solution for the resident.”