A London family is in crisis after a bed bug infestation in their flat has forced them to stay away from others, and the household’s breadwinner’s are unable to work.
Mark Henderson and Chelsea Francis are forced to live on £900-a-month benefit payments as a result of a buglife burrowed into the fabrics of their one-bed Fulham flat.
Chelsea has been declared unfit to work due to her epilepsy and Mark’s now unable to get out of the house due to the infestation. Now, Hammersmith and Fulham Council has moved the family into a hotel while they look for a new home.
Handyman Mark, 27, said: “It was horrific having to live there.”
He continued: “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Me, my partner and two kids couldn’t leave the house because we are covered in [bedbugs] and didn’t want to pass them on.
“I don’t want people to think we’re dirty – the house was spotless. We’re clean people but the bedbugs were just everywhere.”
The pair had been living in the flat for seven years, but the bed bug issue exploded in the last year.
Mark explained: “My kids get [bedbugs] in their ears – it’s absolutely disgusting. We couldn’t go to out as a family.
“There was a funfair the other day that we had planned to go to, but we couldn’t. The bedbugs are in their prams, in their clothes – they are even in the fridge.
“We just want to live our lives and be able to go outside. No one should have to go through this.”
Chelsea, 26, added: “The bedbugs weren’t budging. They get in wardrobes and in my bed. They were everywhere. It was awful and so gross, knowing that you were getting crawled on the whole time. It was like a nightmare.”
Hammersmith & Fulham Council said officers had been to the infested property nine times since 2018 over the bedbug crisis.
A spokesperson for the council confirmed that the family had now been moved out and that a new property was being looked for.
Mark said of their first night away from the bedbug-ridden flat: “Being able to have a bath and a shower and coming out knowing you won’t be sitting back in bedbugs was amazing. It’s the best sleep we’ve ever had.
“Both the kids slept like logs. We are so relieved to be out of there.”
A council spokesperson said: “We have acted swiftly [on October 19] and moved the family into a hotel, as we find them a new, permanent home. We are now working closely with the family to make sure that they have the daily support they need – including a dedicated social worker, any clothing, bedding or furniture they need, meals, as well as financial help to allow them to buy other food and supplies.
“Any H&F residents struggling to pay their bills or need advice about benefits or support can call our dedicated team for help on 0800 917 6994 or visit: www.lbhf.gov.uk/costofliving.”
