RESIDENTS’ lives are being made a misery as their properties in Newquay are being infested with rats.

Tenants living in Sanctuary Housing properties in Berry Road say the vermin have been living in their attics and wall cavities for more than two years.

People living in the housing complex, which includes a terrace of three houses and two blocks of flats, have complained to the housing association repeatedly, but the problem still persists.

One mother and her five-month-old and five-year-old children are sleeping in the front room of their property because the pungent smell is so bad.

Many say they are being kept awake at night by the rats scurrying around, while others have left food out only to discover it has been eaten when they have returned.

A number of residents have expressed a desire to be rehoused until the rat problem has been eradicated and accused Sanctuary Housing of initially being “slow to take action”.

The housing association has since organised for a specialist pest control inspector to visit a number of the properties and cleaned the “overflowing” bin store.

The company has also blocked several entry points to stop the rats getting in which has improved matters for some residents.

A resident, who does not want to be named, said: “We hear the rats in the attic and have found four of them dead so far. It’s horrific.

“They are also in the bin store and have chewed through a fibre optic cable, which is underground in the car park.

“A neighbour left their porridge on the bed and went out. By the time they got back it had been eaten.

“I initially contacted Sanctuary Housing in 2023, but they said it was Cornwall Council that was liable. Cornwall Council said it was Sanctuary Housing issue.

“Sanctuary Housing eventually sent out a rat exterminator and set traps in our attic, but they said remedial work would need to be carried out to the property to stop the rats from getting in.

“That includes filling in a hole in the roof and they are burrowing under the slabs in the garden. They are also going through the cavity walls between the properties and flats.

“Sanctuary sorted the bin stores out several days ago which is obviously good, but I still feel we collectively forced their hand to do so.

“We had a maintenance man out a couple days ago who blocked several potential entry points from the garden into the cavity wall, however I came to the house the following day and noticed only one of six garden slabs were lifted around the area of concern.

“I lifted the remaining slabs and found two more decomposed rats underneath.

“The rat activity within the attic has almost vanished, however with the current entry point blockages being temporary fixes metal wool and mesh shoved in it doesn’t guarantee they won’t return.

“Not only can a rat remove that blockage should they really be determined to, but they can still access the property via a hole in the roof where the tiles and felt has come through.

“That is also something that has been assessed by Sanctuary a while ago and we are yet to hear anything more. The blocks of flats are also infested and terraced to the house so I think they could easily return via the cavities between the properties.

“The stench of decomposing rodents still remains, and it is more than possible that should Sanctuary delay tasks such as disinfecting areas and replacing insulation more pests will be attracted to the odour. I’ve spent money out of my own pocket to buy products online for tackling such smells.”

Resident Tash Maria-Danieux added: “There are rats living in our loft. They are quiet by day but at night they are running around. It’s like they are having a disco up there.

“A neighbour has had some one around putting down rat poison

“Both my wife and I struggle with various conditions, so the rat infestation is not helping, and it also does not help the mental health side of things.”

A spokesperson for Sanctuary said: “We are aware of the concerns expressed about this issue and are committed to supporting our customers to resolve it.

“Work being carried out by a specialist pest control contractor is ongoing and an operative appointment has also been arranged to investigate possible entry points and block them where necessary.”

Cornwall Council has been contacted for comment.