Nayland woman says she has slept in car for 11 weeks

Vanessa Gentry, 66, told the EADT she has taken to sleeping in her car after finding herself too concerned for her health to remain in her Nayland bungalow.

Babergh District Council has said said it is not responsible for Ms Gentry's situation as she moved into the property through a mutual exchange, but is doing "everything in our power" to help her.

Ms Gentry moved into the bungalow in June. She was initially satisfied when viewing the property, although now remembers all the windows being open, and the smell of joss sticks.

Vanessa Gentry said that sleeping in her car is affecting her physically, mentally and financially. (Image: Newsquest)

A drain in Vanessa's wet room, filled with dog hair. (Image: Vanessa Gentry) The loft above Vanessa's bedroom, still containing belongings from the bungalow's previous tenant. (Image: Vanessa Gentry)

However, on moving in, she discovered rodent droppings inside the kitchen units, and scratches on the surfaces. Works within the home also revealed dog hair, and a “musky” smell throughout the property.

When she lay down to sleep in the bedroom, Ms Gentry could feel her lungs tightening and said she struggled to breathe.

Ms Gentry suffers from hypersensitivity, which causes the immune system to react with allergy symptoms. Ms Gentry also suffers from sinus and allergic rhinitis, which causes the inside of the nose to swell when exposed to allergens such as pollen, dust, mould or flakes of skin from certain animals. She is also allergic to dust mites.

These conditions also mean that Ms Gentry cannot be exposed to harsh chemicals or pesticides.

Out of fear for her health, Ms Gentry took to sleeping in her car until the issues could be resolved.

Eleven weeks on, she is still doing so. While Babergh District Council have carried out some renovations, including replacing the worktops of the kitchen counters and laying a new kitchen floor, Ms Gentry said she still does not feel safe sleeping inside the property.

She would like the counters to be replaced entirely, as she does not feel safe preparing food in the kitchen where the units may have been contaminated by mouse urine. She would also like a full inspection and air quality control assessment to determine which material is making her lungs feel tight.

Vanessa Gentry's kitchen, with units she would like to be removed and replaced. (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Gentry is unhappy that she has not been housed in temporary accommodation in the meantime. She also feels that her health conditions have not been taken seriously, despite letters from her GP surgery supporting her wish.

“Logic says to me, do not go in that property because it is detrimental to my health,” she said. “I’m petrified to go into that bedroom to sleep.”

Sleeping in her car for such a prolonged period of time has affected her physically, causing both ankles to swell, mentally and financially.

“Anyone, wherever you dwell, wants to be able to lay in their bed without their lungs going tight,” she said.

A spokesperson for Babergh District Council said: “A mutual exchange is a legal agreement between tenants to swap homes.  The onus is on the incoming tenant to check that they are happy with the present condition of the property that they are moving into, particularly - as with any council property – we are not responsible for cleaning, pest control, clearance, or tenant damage.

“We must obviously be consistent in the services we provide to all our tenants.  We have, however, tried to help Ms Gentry by ensuring the property is in a good state of repair.  Work underway includes repairs in the bathroom, including a replacement toilet and retiled walls, replacing kitchen worktops and refitting cupboards, giving remaining cupboards a full and thorough clean, and levelling a path in the rear garden. 

“Although we are not responsible for pest control, we have approached an external pest contractor to understand more about the issue and see what may be done to help, and have also looked into grants for steam cleaning and use of non-toxic paint to accommodate Ms Gentry’s allergies.

“We have provided Ms Gentry with a named officer who is speaking to her on a weekly basis to ensure she has the support she needs, and we understand she is also in discussions with her local councillor and church.  Ms Gentry has also been given further information about how to escalate her complaint if she remains dissatisfied with our support, including how to contact the Housing Ombudsman Service.

“In the meantime, Ms Gentry has not been served with any notice to quit the property and we continue to do everything within in our power to help resolve her issues.  This would, however, have to be the next step once everything possible has been done, should Ms Gentry still not wish to live there.”