A TENANT of a city housing association claims she has been forced to live with rats, maggots and bluebottles.

Siohbon Carey, who suffers from epilepsy, moved into her first floor flat around three years ago.

At the end of last year, she noticed a strong smell in her kitchen and discovered rat droppings behind the skirting board at the sink and underneath a kitchen unit.

She contacted Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association who sent in pest control staff but Siohbon, 28, says she continued to discover droppings and still hears rats scratching behind the bedroom wall.

Siohbon said: “Pest control have been here four times between December and January and I now have live maggots and bluebottles in the kitchen.

“The housing association has told me I have to try and let them deal with the problem but it is disgusting and very stressful.”

Siohbon, who lives in Medwin Street, is worried about what would happen if she collapsed alone in the flat with an epileptic seizure.

She said: “My concern is that if I have an episode and a rat comes out they could start eating away at me.

“The housing association says the rat wouldn’t touch me but I don’t want to risk that.

“I have done a lot of work into this property but it is not suitable for my medical condition and I would like a move because of that and the rat problem.”

Siohbon, who is unemployed because of her health, is being advised by support group DisabledViewUK.

Chairwoman Lorraine Cameron said: “People are being forced to live in properties, which with their medical needs, no-one could deem acceptable.

“For example, one lady with a serious medical condition which leaves her unable to move for up to an hour, had uninvited guests over Christmas.

“If a rat had got into the room where she was, she would have had no way to defend herself.

“Due to the threat to this lady’s wellbeing we requested urgent rehousing, even on a temporary basis, but this was refused.”

Ian Morrison, chief executive of Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association said a pest contractor visited the flat in December and identified potential rat activity below the sink base. Bait was laid and potential access holes were sealed.

A return visit a few days later found the bait untouched but in January dead bluebottles were found in the hall.

After being contacted by the Evening Times, a joiner and pest contractor visited the flat, removed the base units but no evidence of rat activity was found.

Mr Morrison added: “However, on opening up a section of floor, evidence of rat activity has been discovered on the ceiling boards of the flat below.

“Allpest has left a charged trap to try and catch any vermin which may be active and an arrangement has been made to call on Monday morning to check.”