A mum-of-two is at breaking point after enduring homes riddled with damp and rats for years, and was even without hot water and working electricity for months.

Leigh Murphy has been "tirelessly" fighting for suitable accommodation for her and her two children, aged four and nine, for the past two years after The Guinness Partnership placed her into damp and rat-infested homes twice.

A spokesperson for the association has apologised and admitted repairs have taken 'too long' and it had 'fallen short'.

Ms Murphy's ordeal first began in 2020 when she was provided a home in Littlemoor that had no heating or hot water for three months, forcing her to use the kettle to bathe the children and wash the pots.

But to make matters worse, the 29-year-old said she then discovered rodent droppings throughout the property and found wires had been chewed through. 

The damage caused to the electrics meant the family were left without working lights.

The Oldham Times: Ms Murphy said she's seen rats running through the property and found droppings.Ms Murphy said she's seen rats running through the property and found droppings.

While the housing association said it would fix the issues, which included repairing some of the brickwork where the rodents were able to enter the property, Ms Murphy and her children were put up in a nearby hotel and then a high-rise flat - which wasn't ideal for carrying a two-year-old and a pram.

However, when they eventually moved back into the property, the mum said the holes had not been filled, rats were still in the property and just a few months later the ceiling in the kitchen fell through.

In her complaint to the housing association dated April last year, seen by The Oldham Times, she said she had endured "nothing but problems" and that she was "tirelessly battling with Guinness" to no avail.

The Oldham Times: Only a few months after moving back into her home in Littlemore after repairs had been done, the ceiling fell through.Only a few months after moving back into her home in Littlemore after repairs had been done, the ceiling fell through.

Her complaint continued: "My house has absolutely stunk - it's highly likely there is a dead rat in the property and this morning I saw a rat run past my bedroom and they've urinated on my daughter's blankets.

"Due to the diseases that rats carry, I have fought tirelessly all day with Guinness to remove me from the property until they have removed the rats and done the brickwork.

"Living like this with two young children is disgusting and totally unfair with Guinness knowing myself and my three-year-old daughter have ongoing health issues."

The family were again put up in temporary accommodation but Ms Murphy said they have had to move at least four times in the past two years across Oldham and Rochdale in various hotels, which has caused major disruption to her life. 

And when the family were finally granted an ideal home in Chadderton just three weeks ago by the Guinness Partnership, Ms Murphy said she moved in to discover damp scaling the bedroom walls and mice running through the rooms.

The Oldham Times: Damp is running all through the bedrooms in the new property.Damp is running all through the bedrooms in the new property.

She said: "I've had enough.

"There's damp everywhere - it's in both of the bedrooms - and I came home from work on Monday to see all the ceiling going up my stairs is leaking.

"I had a mouse run over my foot and then I found one on my daughter's bed.

"It's disgusting. I'm absolutely mortified.

"I've literally lived in more decamps (temporary accommodation) now than I have lived in these homes."

The Oldham Times: The damp is causing damage to the walls and is affecting her daughter's health.The damp is causing damage to the walls and is affecting her daughter's health.

The problem isn't only affecting Ms Murphy's mental health and anxiety, but her children who have had to move schools three times.

Meanwhile, the youngest, who suffers from eczema and asthma, has been put on antibiotics after becoming ill from the hazardous conditions.

Ms Murphy added: "I'm not one to out my life but it's just come to the point now where enough is enough.

"It's uprooting the kids. They have no routine and on my eldest especially, it's taken a massive toll on her.

"I can't move schools again because it's just going to take an even bigger toll.

"I've had to leave my job because I would have ended up getting sacked for moving about again, so I just left.

"It's just an absolute nightmare.

The Oldham Times: Ms Murphy said she's been battling The Guinness Partnership "tirelessly" for the past two years for a suitable home.Ms Murphy said she's been battling The Guinness Partnership "tirelessly" for the past two years for a suitable home.

"I just need a house that's safe enough for my kids to live in."

She has been moved into new nearby temporary accommodation as of Thursday, July 28, while repairs begin on the property.

But she said she remains sceptical if the housing association will amend the problems.

"It's still the fact that we've got to go through all this again. It's just draining."

A spokesperson from The Guinness Partnership said: "We apologise to Miss Murphy. 

"We have attempted to resolve the problems reported to us but recognise that this has taken too long and the quality of homes and service that she has received has fallen short. 

"We very much regret this and again extend our sincerest apologies to Miss Murphy and her family."

The housing association said it is now dealing with the issues in her latest property "as a matter of urgency".

"As soon as we were made aware that there was a leak, we attended and arranged to move her to a hotel whilst further work is carried out to her home.

"We appreciate this is disruptive, but we will continue to support her, including paying for meals and subsistence as we have done previously. 

"Once again we apologise profusely to Miss Murphy."