Newbury residents cant sleep tight after outbreak of bed bugs
And some have criticised the response of landlord Sovereign Housing, saying no action was taken for weeks.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I personally contacted Sovereign three weeks ago because of the infestation.
“I was bitten, my partner was bitten and lots of other residents were bitten. It took weeks for Sovereign to do anything.”
Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed exclusively on blood. They usually live nearby or inside beds and bedding.
If not treated quickly and professionally, a few bugs can quickly become an infestation.
Another resident who also asked not to be named said: “Sovereign eventually sent out a team to fumigate a couple of flats.
“They were wearing protective overalls and breathing apparatus and seemed surprised that we were living amid such an infestation.
“For almost a month we had very little information or support from Sovereign. They hide anywhere, in every nook and cranny. I’m covered in bites.”
A spokesman for Sovereign Housing, Roy Probert, said: “We were notified of this problem on November 12, and acted swiftly to resolve it, working closely with residents and other agencies.
“Our contractors have visited these properties on a number of occasions. The infestation has been isolated to three flats; all neighbouring flats have been inspected and are unaffected.
“Treatment will continue until we are satisfied that the situation has been fully resolved.”
