Family of five from Tullamore living in rat infested, mould ridden rented house

A FAMILY of five living in a rat infested rented house in Kilbeggan is urgently seeking accommodation from Offaly County Council.

Tullamore woman, Mary Joyce, her son, daughter and two grandchildren, have been living in a mould ridden and rat infested house in the Westmeath town for the past three years.

The house has no heating and the family are forced to congregate in the living room where there is an open fire.

The Tribune experienced the freezing conditions in the terraced house when we visited the property recently.

"We have no other option but to stay here," Mary Joyce told the Tribune saying she did not blame the landlords as they had asked them to move saying the house was unfit for human habitation.

Ms Joyce said she and her family would be homeless if they were forced to move from the house in the centre of Kilbeggan.

"I took the house because I was desperate at the time," she outlined, adding that the landlords want the family to move out after Christmas.

Ms Joyce maintained there was no private accommodation available to rent in Tullamore at present under the HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) scheme.

The Tullamore woman said she had been on the housing waiting list in Offaly for over 20 years but there was no sign of them being housed in the forseeable future.

Mould is visible in every room in the house while there are also large holes, boarded up, through which rats are able to gain entry.

The electricity supply is also hazardous and no lights can be turned on in the bathroom due to electricity surges.

"Me and my family want to get back to Tullamore," outlined Ms Joyce, who is in regular contact with officials at Offaly County Council.

She said their Kilbeggan rented home has also been inspected by officers from Westmeath County Council.

READ NEXT: Offaly's Lumcloon Energy team raises awareness for men’s health during Movember

READ NEXT: Beloved Offaly priest was a pillar of faith, community and the GAA