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Move us from ‘bug’ house plea from father
A FATHER-of-five has made a desperate plea to be rehoused so his family can escape living in a "bug-infested" house.
Jason Paul (32) has been trying to move out of the property in Holyrood Road, Prestwich, for the past two years but says suitable addresses have not been forthcoming because of Bury Council's priority system.
Jason has been living at the private address for three years with his wife Carrol (33) and children Hannah (15), Jade (13), Sophie (11), Callum (8) and Ethan (6).
Since then, the family has suffered a string of misfortunes. Jason was made redundant from his job as a sales manager and Carrol became ill and has been unable to work since.
The house, meanwhile, has suffered from structural damage and has attracted insects and rats.
Jason said the property's owners have been helpful, but it has been difficult to find a long-term solution as the house has been bought and sold three times since the family moved in.
Jason said: "It really is getting to the stage where something has to be done. We had a woman from Bury Council's environmental health come round and she said it was the worse house case of infestation she had ever seen.
"We still don't know what the insects are and the council is taking them away to be tested. We've tried poisons and everything that has been recommended to us, but the problem keeps coming back."
He added: "It's getting worse now because Hannah and Jade are both doing exams at school and I am worried what effect all this is having on them. We would love to leave but we have nowhere else to go except the streets.
"The rent on this house is unsurprisingly cheap and we can't afford the deposit and rental needed on another house in the private market, whereas with the smaller rent on a council property, I would be able to get a job straight away and not have to worry about money.
"What I cannot believe is that we are not top of the council's priority list. How can this case not be a priority?"
The council say it is happy to assist, but the same rules apply to Mr Paul as everyone else.
A Bury Council spokeswoman said: "Mr Paul is in Band 2. He is able to bid for properties as he chooses via Choice Based Lettings (CBL).
"From last month, all our properties are advertised through CBL under the new name of Bury Housing Options.
"Vacancies are advertised on the internet and at the town hall, Six Town Housing, local libraries, offices and agencies throughout the borough.
"Properties are advertised every Wednesday and applications must be submitted by the following Tuesday. Properties are let to the applicant with the highest priority need."
9:40am Friday 9th May 2008
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