Birmingham council to pay £1,500 to family living in mouse-infested property
The local authority admitted failings at Birmingham Magistrates Court but said it was working to resolve the problem.
A family-of-five were left ‘scared’ as mice ran through the home they rented off Birmingham City Council, a court heard.
Naseem Sajon took legal action against the local authority after it failed to deal with the problem at the property in Asholme Close, where he lived with his wife and three children.
At a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 4), the local authority admitted failings but said it was working to resolve the problem at the property.
The court heard how Mr Sajon had first noticed the presence of rodents and droppings in the house last year.
Faye Mellor, prosecuting, said Mr Sajon contacted the council several times but the issue was not resolved.
A notice of intention to prosecute was then sent in March, giving Birmingham City Council 21 days to rectify the problem but the nuisance was not abated.
An environmental health officer visited the house on April 1 and discovered fresh and old mouse droppings in the kitchen, behind the cooker and even on a light switch as well as in the boiler cupboard.
Miss Mellor said the officer concluded the house was “prejudicial to the health of Mr Sajon and his family”
Miss Mellor told the court: “The family would see mice running in the sitting room when they were there and in the kitchen.
“His wife and children were very worried and scared. His wife was constantly cleaning because of the droppings and ensuring surfaces were clean.
“Mr Sajon did not have this issue until roof repairs were carried out the previous year. It is a well maintained house and the family are clean.
“Mice are known carriers of a number of illnesses including salmonella. This is an ongoing problem and may continue to be so until the matter is resolved.”
Remus Cozma, defending, said: “The council is now working towards remedying the situation to ensure the issue does not happen again.”
Magistrates granted the abatement order which requires the local authority to carry out works to ensure the mouse presence is abated and ensure there is no re-occurrence within 28 days.
The council was also ordered to pay £1,510 in compensation to the family and costs of £6,810.76.