A young woman said she has been forced into homelessness for six months after the authorities rejected her pleas for help with a rat infestation.

Tia Henderson, who was Oldham's Youth Mayor between 2021-22, said she moved into her Chadderton flat that is run by the housing association, Great Places, two years ago.

The then 18-year-old had just left foster care and said she was happy to finally have a place of her own with her furry family member, Tiny, a blue Staffy cross.

However, six months ago, she said she heard scratching in the walls and thought she was "going mad" until she saw two rats running across her carpet.

The young woman said she was "mortified" and despite pest control laying poison, said she was left to battle with the authorities to have the rat carcases removed and resolve the problem of more coming in.

A neighbour even rang the police due to the number of flies the dead rats attracted and Tia said a police officer checked on her welfare after growing concerned about there being a dead body in the flat.

The 20-year-old said she moved into a "cold" and "isolating" shipping container in August at a local kennel she was volunteering at due to the state of her flat.

Tia said: "It was really emotional.

"The council said I was making myself 'intentionally homeless' because they could offer me emergency accommodation, but I couldn't take the dog.

"I literally had nowhere to go."

However, following a safeguarding concern at the container, Tia had to leave and has since been sleeping in a friend's car and sofa surfing.

She is now in a friend's flat in Shaw where she has until Thursday this week. 

Oldham Council said it was "sorry" to hear about her situation and said it has offered to pay for her temporary accommodation while repairs are underway.

The spokesperson added: "No other tenants in the block have reported an infestation problem, so our housing team is confident that the problem is down to a combination of holes in the wall allowing for access and pet food attracting the rats."

“Further investigations will also be carried out to rule out any other potential access points. 

“The council and Great Places are supporting this resident to make sure she can move back into her home as quickly as possible.”

But Tia said the problem has been compounded by the fact no one has taken ownership of the problem, with the council claiming to have "access issues" yet the neighbourhood officer lost the key she provided.

However, recent media attention has driven the authorities to take action and repairs have been underway since Friday (December 2).

The work so far has revealed her kitchen wall had a rat's nest inside and her kickboard was "soaking wet" with rat urine.

Tia said she isn't hopeful she will be home in time for Christmas as holes need to be filled, new flooring needs to be put down, and a deep clean is required because "there's spatters of decomposed rats everywhere".

Tia added: "I don't have a family to fall back on. I've got the dog and that's it. He's all that keeps me going.

"It still saddens me when I go back into the property. I made that home my own. It was my first place and I loved it.

"I feel like I've just been pushed around by all these different professionals.

"My mental health has been affected massively - so badly that I'm now having two therapy sessions a week."

She said her stressful time has been exacerbated by the fact she desperately tried to have her voice heard by the council she once worked in.

"I haven't been listened to and it's already hard when you've got no family to advocate for you.

"I just wouldn't wish this on anybody."

The young woman is now advocating for change in the housing sector and has even launched a campaign to petition against pets being used as a barrier to housing.

Council leader, Amanda Chadderton, also said she is "incredibly worried" about the state of Tia's home.

The councillor said: "No one should have to live like this - the videos and pictures are horrifying.

"I've instructed officers to work with the resident to get the repairs completed as quickly as possible."

She added: “Oldham’s housing needs to improve and in November I asked our Chief Executive Harry Catherall to launch a review of how we approach our housing stock.

"I’m pleased that this is currently underway and reassured by our housing providers that steps are being taken to improve homes across the borough.”

A joint statement by Great Places and Wates Living Space said it was "sorry" for the issues Tia has faced and it is "committed" to providing homes that protect the wellbeing and safety of tenants.

The housing association said it is carrying out urgent repairs and has agreed to install new flooring, new white goods and provide Tia with replacement furniture.

It added: “We are carrying out an urgent review of what has caused Tia to have to move out of her home and to ensure we respond urgently to any findings it may identify.”