Mother alleges year-long struggle in vermin-ridden temporary housing
A Birmingham mother has described living with her two young children in a vermin-infested hostel in Perry Barr, saying repeated complaints over the past year have not secured improvements. The 31-year-old, a pub worker and single parent, has been in temporary accommodation for two years since being evicted when her landlord opted to sell. She is understood to be in the council’s highest priority band for social housing.
Footage filmed by the resident, named as Dominique Trapszo, shows rats crossing a shared kitchen floor, cockroaches trapped in large numbers and litter strewn around the site. She says her family have been confined to small rooms and are forced to store food in sealed containers to deter pests.
“It has been nothing but problems since coming here,” she said, adding: “I’ve got rats, mice and cockroaches, I’ve got evidence of it all.”
Moved once, but ‘worse’ conditions reported
The family were previously placed in a hotel on Hagley Road, which the mother says had an ant problem. They were relocated in August last year after raising concerns. The new site — a former student block converted for homeless families — has, she says, presented greater risks. She alleges her daughter developed ringworm, which a doctor linked to unclean living conditions, and claims she has sent photos and videos of rats inside cupboards to those managing the building.
“My daughter had ringworm … I was told from the doctor it was basically from living in dirty facilities,” she said. “The rats and mice are crawling over stuff. Their wee is very dangerous to young children.”
According to the mother, a cockroach trap in her room held dozens of insects. She says advice she received included keeping food in containers rather than a comprehensive plan to eradicate pests.
What we know about the accommodation moves
| Location | Type | Reported issues | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hagley Road | Hotel used for temporary accommodation | Ant infestation (resident complaint) | Complaints raised prior to August last year |
| Perry Barr | Former student complex, now hostel for families | Rats, mice, cockroaches; littered communal areas | Resident reporting issues for about a year |
Growing pressure on the city’s temporary housing
Birmingham, like many large urban areas, has seen a sustained rise in demand for homelessness services and temporary placements. Families facing so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions and rising private rents often rely on hostels, converted blocks and hotels while they wait for permanent housing offers. While strict statutory duties require councils to provide suitable accommodation for children, the quality and management of such sites can vary widely, particularly where multiple providers are involved.
Health professionals warn that exposure to rodents and cockroaches can exacerbate respiratory conditions and present infection risks, especially for young children. Ringworm, a fungal skin infection, can be transmitted in environments where hygiene is difficult to maintain. The mother’s account raises questions about pest control, cleaning regimes and the oversight of buildings repurposed quickly to meet urgent need.
Resident’s claims at a glance
- Two years in temporary housing following eviction when landlord decided to sell.
- Moved from a hotel on Hagley Road to a hostel in Perry Barr last August after ant issues.
- Reports of rats, mice and cockroaches in shared and private areas over the past year, including video evidence.
- Alleges her daughter contracted ringworm, with a doctor linking it to unclean conditions.
What families can do if conditions are unsafe
Families in temporary accommodation who encounter significant disrepair or infestation can usually:
- Report issues promptly to the accommodation manager and log all correspondence.
- Request pest control visits and a written action plan with timescales.
- Seek advice from a housing law charity or independent adviser about suitability and safeguarding duties.
- Speak to health professionals if there are symptoms potentially linked to poor housing conditions.
The mother says she has worked consistently since her mid-teens and stressed she does not want to raise her children in what she considers an unsafe environment. She believes she has exhausted the usual reporting channels and is appealing for urgent action to make the building habitable or to be moved to a cleaner, safer place.
InfoRadar has not seen the full correspondence between the resident and those managing the hostel. The allegations relate to the condition of shared and private areas of the property as described by the mother. We have approached the relevant authorities for comment on the management standards and pest control arrangements at the Perry Barr site.
