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HMO vermin problem plagues Swansea locals
22/09/2011
A Swansea man has hit out at irresponsible neighbours for turning the street that has been his life-long home into rat and mouse "heaven".
David Wilson has spent all of his 63 years living on Bryn Road in the Brynmill area of the city, and has said that the rise of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) have led to people not respecting or caring for the area and creating perfect rat conditions.
He said he had been dreading September starting and the start of term at Swansea University, as Brynmill's popularity as a student area means more and more rubbish and vermin problems for permanent residents. Mr Wilson said he dispatched one rat himself, with a few swift blows from his walking stick.
"It was around 8.30am, and it made a beeline for the front door," he said. "It was just unbelievable. Rats are nocturnal creatures. It's like heaven for them here."
A Swansea Council spokesman said that they would be taking enforcement action against residents in Brynmill who put their rubbish out on the wrong days, creating magnets for vermin, and would be keeping a close eye on the area's HMOs.
"We work very closely with HMO landlords and tenants and have outlined to Mr Wilson at least 30 schemes in the area to make sure tenants dispose of rubbish on the right days," he said. "But the responsibility to get it right lies with the tenants themselves, and we will issue fines to persistent offenders if necessary."
