Nathan and Sarah Dredge said their life has become a nightmare after problems piled up
Nathan Dredge at his home on Egerton Street. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A vulnerable couple said living in their dream home on the edge of Liverpool city centre has turned into a nightmare after issues with mice and struggles to get vital home repairs completed. Nathan and Sarah Dredge moved from Anfield to Egerton Street in October 2021.
The Your Housing tenants had been in their home barely a month when the problems they experienced began to pile up. Within weeks, Nathan said they were confronted with vermin getting into their home.
Such is their desperation, the couple have said they now just want to get out of the house. Nathan said the situation has become so difficult that it has taken a toll on their mental health.
He told the ECHO: “We have been trying for over a year to get the housing repairs done. We’ve got holes in the wall and the whole street has got an issue with mice.
“When it got a lot worse was when they did roadworks outside, it was like it disturbed them. They’ve been getting into the house because of the holes.
“I had to try and fill them in with expanding foam.” Nathan, 52, said issues also existed with the walls in the property and claimed Your Housing staff had asked him and his wife to undertake work themselves to enable it.
Nathan Dredge at his home on Egerton Street. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
He said: “They expect two disabled, vulnerable people to strip the wallpaper so it can be plastered. We can’t do that.
“When we moved the sofa, we saw a dead mouse there. We’ve done everything we can to keep the house clean.
“There’s a metal bar that was holding the banister up with a piece of wood stuck in, but then the bar snapped and Sarah can’t get up the stairs.”
“It’s been so hard, Sarah does what she can but I have to give her personal care. We love living here and wanted to stay forever but we’ve lost interest in the house now.”
Nathan said he and his wife, 53, moved from their previous home in Anfield over problems surrounding anti-social behaviour and had hoped for a more positive experience in their current property. He said they were desperate to make the house safe because he was afraid one of them could be hurt.
He added: “They’re supposed to be supporting us. We reported the banister in April.
Nathan Dredge at his home on Egerton Street. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“We told them we are vulnerable, they are supposed to come and sort things within four hours. We’ve been waiting for months.
“Both of us suffer from depression and then this has happened. It just makes you feel more down.
“We just want to get out of here now.”
A spokesperson for Your Housing Group said: “We want our residents to feel safe and supported in their homes. Over the last year, we have attended this property on a number of occasions to carry out repairs as they have been reported.
“We recognise that there is still an ongoing issue with the banister, but we are working to get this resolved as soon as possible. Our customer services team are in touch with the resident and have arranged a full property inspection to make sure we capture any other repairs that are needed.”