Salford mum’s relief as she looks to escape house ‘plagued’ by flies and rats

A mum and her three-year-old daughter plagued by infestations of rats, mice and bluebottles are to be rehoused.

Housing association Salix Homes says it will rehome Emma Martin and daughter Margot “when suitable accommodation becomes available”.

As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Emma, 37, said the rodents and flies were turning life in Rake Lane, Swinton into “a living hell”.

Other residents in the street backed up her comments, saying they were also suffering from the same problem.

Video footage showed rats in Emma’s back yard and flies all over the walls of the kitchen of the terraced home.

Rake Lane is near a waste disposal tip and other recycling facilities.

Emma and Margot are currently staying with friends in Cumbria. Emma said: “There’s no way I could live in that house any longer. The flies are disgusting.

“I’m grateful that they have now agreed to rehouse me, but I’m now concerned about how long that might take.”

After the Local Democracy Reporting Service highlighted the residents’ plight, Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey took up Emma’s case.

Ms Long-Bailey said: “I saw the press coverage of the problem in Rake Lane and had a meeting with Emma. There is clearly a problem in that area with rats, mice and flies.

“It’s great news that the housing association has agreed to rehome her when suitable accommodation comes up.”

The MP said she had considered actioning a complaint to the housing ombudsman if the complaints procedure with Salix Homes had failed.

Sue Sutton, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “We can confirm that we have received a request from one resident at Rake Lane to move to another property and we are working closely with this tenant to explore all possible, available housing options.”