Rat infestation causes months of ‘terror’ at flats in Hackney

A rat infestation at an apartment block in north-east London has left people “terrified, stressed” and “unable to sleep”.

One resident filmed more than a dozen rats in the bin store at the Crystal Court flats in Hackney.

Notting Hill Genesis, which manages the building, said it was tackling the ongoing pest issues, and apologised for the impact on residents.

People living in the building said the rats had been there for around a year, and that they had complained to the management company several times.

“I saw 10 to 15 rats scurrying up the walls, running into a hole in the bin store ceiling,” said Marlon, who did not want to give his surname.

“I was shocked. I threw my rubbish into the bin and got out.”

One woman, who did not want to be identified, said the experience was terrifying and caused her stress over several months.

She said the sound of the rats through the walls kept her awake at night.

Fellow resident Mafalda Pedro said: “You can hear them scratching away. We’ve complained quite a few times already.”

She added: “It’s not a good environment, especially because we have a child. We’re scared to go downstairs to be honest.”

“I have a young daughter and I feel scared. At night from inside our flat you can hear the rats scratching,” said Diana, another resident.

Notting Hill Genesis said: “Household waste left in communal areas has now been cleared and we have carried out extensive pest control and prevention work.

“Work to clean and remove waste from the bin store has been completed and cleaning will continue to keep the space sanitary.”

The company added: “We continue to work with residents and have advised them to take additional care when disposing of waste to prevent these issues from reoccurring.”