A FAMILY have blasted a housing association after being shipped out of their home into an ‘insect ridden’ property.

Claire Kelly, husband Graham Kelly, an undertaker, and her sons Stephen and Dale Farrar, both salesman, were moved out of their Buller Street home in Bury, five weeks ago.

Six Town Housing assured Mrs Kelly she would be back in her home of 12 years within four weeks once work was completed to fix a major damp issue at the property.

They were moved to a home in Toon Crescent, in Brandlesholme, which they have described as in a ‘filthy state’ and believe they are being made to live in ‘squalor’.

Mrs Kelly, a till supervisor at B&M said: “It’s bad enough that they assured us we would be back in our home within four weeks and we’re now in the fifth week with no work even started.

“But we’ve now been told it won’t be another five weeks now until we can move back and the property they have moved us to is absolutely filthy, they aren’t acceptable living conditions.

“My son videoed a tick on his leg and we’re being constantly bitten by fleas, and ants crawl throughout the house.

“Six Town have even tried to tell me the house isn’t infested.

“I can’t have my grandchildren round because of the state of the place it’s just not safe.”

The family were guaranteed the home would have a whitewash, new carpets and curtains before they were moved in.

Mrs Kelly, who suffers with anxiety and depression, has had a number of emotional breakdowns since being at the property.

She is continuing to pay rent at her Buller Street home and said: “We didn’t expect luxury but we expected to be sent somewhere which was liveable.

“There were no blinds or curtains so we had absolutely no privacy which hasn’t helped with my anxiety.

“I had to make numerous calls to get four curtain poles put up so we could have curtains and the rest of the house is still in an absolute state.

“I moved our sofas, beds and kitchen appliances in and I’m worried they’re going to get covered in fleas and other insects.

“It's ridden in insects and absolutely no way to live. We don’t even have a black bin so we’re putting our rubbish out and cats are clawing it open.

“I feel like we have no one to help us and have been left to live in squalor. We desperately want to get back home as it is becoming an issue for everyone’s health.”

A spokesperson from Six Town Housing said: “The service we offered to the family falls well below our normal high standards and we offer our apologies to them for this.

"Unfortunately, there were unexpected delays in relation to carrying out the necessary works to their home and the standard of the temporary accommodation we placed them in was unsatisfactory.

"Whilst we fitted a new kitchen and carpeted the property before they moved in, we accept we could have done a lot more to help the family.

"Arrangements have been put in place to visit the family this week and our contractors are due to complete the work to their home by May 16.

"There were no prior reports of fleas or ticks in the property and on receiving the report this week, arrangements were made for the council's pest control team to attend the property to address the problem straight away.

"There are a number of lessons we have learnt from this complaint which will help us improve the level of service we offer to tenants.”