A south London council tenant says she has been forced to buy a hazmat suit after a flea infestation took over the downstairs communal area of her flat.
Residents in Renown Close, West Croydon, have been told to avoid the area until at least early next week.
While insecticide was eventually applied last week, residents say the outbreak reflects broader issues with poor housing conditions on their Croydon estate. “That is the dirt they have got us living in,” one resident said.
Concerns first arose two weeks ago when a resident noticed a cluster of bites on her arm. The resident, who asked not to be named, spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) about her experience.
“We have had issues for years around the communal space,” she said. “The caretaker never cleans like he should, so I said, let me mop the communal area floor. Within a couple of hours, I realised I had been bitten alive.”
The bites continued until she decided to avoid the downstairs area altogether.
“I tested my theory by staying away for two days and got no bites, when I went back down, I got bit.”
.jpeg)
Both the resident and her neighbour, who shares the communal area, believe the infestation is the result of poor hygiene across the Handcroft Road Estate, where they have lived for years. They pointed to an incident where a neighbour left a flea-infested mattress outside their flat, where it was left sitting.
Despite providing the council with footage of the mattress and evidence of the bites, the property was not inspected until Tuesday, June 20 —over a week after the infestation was first reported. During that inspection, a housing officer confirmed the area was infested with fleas.
In the meantime, the resident visited her GP due to the growing number of bites. To her shock, she was diagnosed with scabies and is now using prescription permethrin cream.
A letter sent to the three households sharing the space advised that the area must remain untouched for at least four hours after treatment. This treatment was carried out by pest control on Friday, May 23.
However, residents were also informed that the area could remain affected for up to 10 days after treatment, meaning they would need to continue using only the upstairs entrance to safely enter or exit.
The resident added: “That is the dirt they have had us living in. I am fuming. I have even bought a hazmat suit for when I have to go down there.”
Her neighbour, who has lived alone next door for six years, said she has avoided bites by staying away from the communal area. Still, she believes the infestation is part of a deeper issue with how the estate is managed.
.jpeg)
“The manifestation of all these issues we have had with the estate in the past is this infestation,” she told the LDRS.
The LDRS has previously reported several issues affecting tenants on the Handcroft Road Estate. Last December, Handcroft resident Rianne Rowe told us she felt she was “going in circles” trying to get repairs done on her ageing flat.
She said: “When I moved here, I thought this was going to be a better start for us, but it hasn’t been. It’s been a lot of stress.
“I feel like they patched over everything here to make it look good when I first moved in.”
Commenting on the recent infestation, a Croydon Council spokesperson said: “We understand that this has been a worrying experience for residents. As soon as it was reported, we activated our pest control procedures and started treatment in the affected communal areas.
“As a precaution, further treatments have also been arranged to help stop the issue from spreading. Residents were given advice on how to stay safe during the treatment and what steps to take in their homes to help eliminate the infestation.
“They were also provided with contact details for any questions or further support. We’ve also responded to questions about scabies, and our pest control team has confirmed this is not linked to flea bites.
“Residents with health concerns have been encouraged to speak with their GP. Guidance has been shared with all residents on how to report fly-tipping and safely dispose of furniture, to help keep shared spaces clean and prevent future issues.
“We’re carrying out regular inspections across the estate and taking action to address communal repairs. We’re also putting plans in place for longer-term improvements to help keep shared spaces in better condition.”
