Families on a South London housing estate are living in fear and disgust as a relentless mouse infestation continues to overwhelm their homes, with reports of dead rodents discovered inside children's toy boxes.
'This isn't the way to live': A community in distress
The crisis is unfolding at the Denmark Gardens estate in Carshalton, managed by Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP), the social housing provider for Sutton Council. Residents describe a block in poor repair, where promises of action have repeatedly failed to materialise.
Carolyn Morris, who supports neighbours in flats 98–116, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the entire block is "riddled with mice." Her son has been forced to stay with her, and her granddaughter refuses to return. "This isn't the way to live," she stated.
Carolyn's son, who wished to remain anonymous, said his mental health has suffered drastically. "We can hear them constantly. I’ve even found dead mice in my children’s toy boxes," he revealed. His daughter has experienced repeated sickness, stomach pain, headaches, and fevers, which the family attributes to exposure to mouse droppings and urine.
Broken promises and a failing response
The problem extends throughout the eastern side of the estate. Resident Ninah Nsubuga, who lives with her newborn son, called the constant scratching in the walls "torture." She finds droppings everywhere and must scrub toys and clothes weekly. She has evidence of mice chewing holes in her baby's clothes and even dead mice appearing in the toilet.
"In their letters about what we should expect from SHP, it says your home will be free from pests," Ninah said, a promise far from the reality residents have endured for years.
Beyond the pests, tenants have waited months for essential window repairs, leaving homes draughty during cold weather. Carolyn described the block's condition as "patchwork."
Residents say SHP pledged a major, coordinated response in July 2025, but it quickly fell apart. According to Carolyn, a team arrived late and understaffed, leaving tenants confused. She claims an SHP employee even asked her—a non-resident—to guide pest control, a request they refused.
A systemic failure of communication and care
Carolyn believes the infestation is fuelled by structural gaps in the ageing block and a vulnerable tenant refusing pest control entry. "They get rid of the infestation around one property and then within a month they are all infested again," she explained.
For residents, the issue symbolises a deeper disrespect. "It is about the total disrespect of tenants and the disrepair they are left in," Carolyn said. She lamented that SHP is destroying the estate's "lovely community feeling."
Communication has been a key failure. "When you ring, there is no compassion and no one calls you back," one tenant said. Carolyn submitted a formal complaint about SHP's poor communication but has received no response. "We are back to them not communicating with us; it is a very confusing scenario," she added.
She also questioned Sutton Council's recent top rating in a social housing inspection, asking, "What tenants did they speak to for that? Because they definitely didn’t speak to those at Denmark Gardens."
Housing provider's response
A spokesperson for Sutton Housing Partnership said: "We understand the distress and impact these ongoing issues are having on the health, wellbeing and daily lives of the residents. We would like to reassure the residents of Denmark Gardens that we are taking this matter extremely seriously."
They stated the investigation has involved agencies beyond pest control, including the Council’s adult social care team, and they believe a resolution is imminent. "Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of all residents. We appreciate the patience of our residents as we pursue this complex, multi-agency solution," the spokesperson concluded.
