Residents of a retirement home are infuriated with a housing association – believing that late action taking care of a bedbug problem has caused it to spiral out of control.
Maudsley House in Ray Street, Maidenhead, provides extra care/sheltered housing for older people who can live independently with some additional support.
It is run by housing association Housing Solutions.
Occupants in part of the house have been battling bedbugs for about a year, they say – and have been complaining about it for almost as long.
Initially, traps were put down, but these proved unable to solve the issue permanently.
Since then, the problem has been left to worsen, says Maudsley House resident Michael Hadley, aged 65.
He believes too little has been done ‘too late.’
“Bedbugs can get anywhere, and you can’t see them until they get big and they bite you,” Michael said.
“My friend, who’s older than me, hasn’t slept on a bed for a year.
“They [Housing Solutions] told him to get rid of his bed and they bought him a new one – but he said, ‘I’m not putting it up until I find out what’s happening to the bedbugs’.”
“[Another] gentleman has got bites all over his hand. He’s had to rip up his carpet and he’s had to get rid of a £1,400 settee.”
Residents also have concerns about trekking bedbugs to other places.
“I’ve got to go to my brother’s funeral in a couple of days’ time, and I don’t know whether I can go, because I don’t know if I’m going to carry bedbugs down there,” said Michael.
“They’re telling us to wash our bedding and clothes at 60 degrees, but I can’t wash most of my clothes at that heat – they’re going to shrink.”
Housing Solutions says it is preparing for a full heat treatment for the affected areas in the next few days.
Residents concerned will be asked to vacate their homes for a few hours – which further concerns Michael.
“There’s a couple of bedridden people living here. They can’t leave,” he said.
Despite residents telling Housing Solution about the bites and other issues, communication has been poor, he added.
“We’re paying a service charge for someone to be here to tell us what’s happening [but] there’s no one here at all. They pop in, check the fire alarms and go,” said Michael.
“It’s ridiculous here. We’re really fed up with [Housing Solutions]. Everyone’s getting more and more depressed.”
A spokesperson for Housing Solutions said the association ‘understand[s] the distress to residents’ and is taking the matter ‘very seriously.’
Since the problem first arose, Housing Solutions has implemented ‘at least fortnightly’ treatments in line with specialist advice, it says.
After the planned heat treatment, Housing Solutions says it intends to monitor the results to ensure it has been effective.
“We’re committed to supporting residents while we resolve this small number of cases swiftly and fully,” said the spokesperson.
“We have offered alternative accommodation to affected residents, laundry services and the replacement or reimbursement for items affected.
“We’ll continue to offer guidance and support until the issue is fully resolved. We appreciate the patience of our residents.
“Anyone with ongoing concerns is encouraged to contact our team directly on 01628 543101.”
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