A SINGLE mum has resorted to sleeping in her bath due to a bedbug infestation which is so bad her children have been left bloodied and scarred.
Tegan Dare said she is at her wit’s end and wants to ‘set fire’ to her council house after three years of the pests plaguing the two-bedroom maisonette.
Tegan Dare inside her flat in SouthamptonSolent
Bed bugs are making her family’s lives hellSolent
The infestation has left her children bloodied and scarredSolent
Her kids Olly and GraceSolent
Tegan Dare said she is at her wit’s endSolent
Her children, Grace, seven, and Olly, four, are ravaged by the insects ‘every night’ and as a result ‘scratch until they bleed’.
Retail worker Ms Dare, 27, said the bites are so bad she has resorted to ‘itching with knives’.
Ms Dare, from Southampton, Hants, is furious with Southampton City Council as she has pleaded for a move but has not been granted one.
Ms Dare first had problems in her maisonette after moving into the property in December 2020.
The problems have continued despite pest control officers giving the house multiple treatments.
She has now ripped out wallpaper, carpet, skirting boards and furniture so the bugs have nowhere to hide.
Ms Dare, who has resorted to sleeping in the bath, said: “We are sore from head to tail due to so many sleepless nights being eaten by the bedbugs.
“My children love to go swimming and when I took them to the pool people made comments about all the red marks on their bodies saying things like ‘I hope that’s not contagious’ – it’s horrible.
“Our bodies are so scarred from all the bites, I don’t think I will be able to wear a dress ever again.
“Our mental and physical health is in tatters. We have had no support from the council, and it feels like they aren’t concerned with the welfare of my children.
“We have been staying with family just to get away from that place. I have stayed up night after night killing bedbugs around my children.
“If it was up to me – I would have the place set on fire.
“My electric bill is also through the roof as we have to wash our clothes very hot to kill the bugs.”
Ms Dare wants the council to move her.
“It’s really bad and they are still making me stay in there”, she said.
“They have been saying for months ‘just one more treatment’ but it’s never that.
“I’m just asking for a studio flat, just somewhere with a roof over our head so I can keep my kids safe.
“I’ve got nowhere else to live.
“My kids are worried, they are itching and it hurts them so much. They are covered in scars now.
“I saw the bedbugs the other night and there must have been thousands of them.
“My daughter came up with a reaction to the bugs as well.”
How to get rid of bedbugs?
It can be extremely difficult to get rid of an infestation, so your best bet may be to get professional help.
Once in they are your home, bedbugs can spread quickly from room to room.
If it takes too long to identify the problem, they could completely contaminate your home.
The NHS advises contacting your local council or a pest control firm that’s a member of the British Pest Control Association or National Pest Technicians Association to deal with an infestation.
Here’s what you should do to get rid of bedbugs:
If you suspect you’ve been infected, the first thing you need to do is strip your bed and wash the sheets and blankets in 60C water, before tumble-drying for at least 30 minutes.
Better still get rid of them altogether by wrapping in bin bags and disposing in a bin.
Make sure you either throw your mattress away, or thoroughly vacuum it, and your carpet under your bed. Then make sure you take the vacuum outside and dispose of the contents.
Because 30 per cent of bed bugs live in your bed frame and headboard, it’s vital that you clean those thoroughly, too.
While vacuuming will get rid of the bugs themselves, it won’t get rid of the eggs. To do that, you’ll need to wipe everywhere with a good pesticide.
Ms Dare added: “I’ve been itching with knives and forks, that’s how bad it’s been. Once you start itching you can’t stop.
“It drives me insane.”
In response to her claims, a council spokesperson said: “We sympathise with Ms Dare’s situation, and we have offered considerable support and advice over a long period of time to help tackle the issue at her home.
“While bed bug treatment plans can vary depending on the severity of the infestation, a sustained and consistent approach, which relies on tenant cooperation and keeping to arranged appointments, is generally the most effective.
“Following the two most recent treatments, our pest control team reported a significant improvement in the condition of Ms Dare’s home when they last visited on 3 November 2023 and a further, final, treatment is scheduled for this week.
“We very much hope this resolves this issue, as only after all the treatments are carried out and the effectiveness of the work is determined would we consider alternative housing options.”
Tegan says she is so scarred she may never wear a dress againSolent Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
