New dad's plea for housing as rats scuttle outside as he says 'It's unfair we're going through this' - Birmingham Live

New dad's plea for housing as rats scuttle outside as he says 'It's unfair we're going through this'Videos from outside the family's temporary housing capture rats running around near

piled-up bin bagsNewsStephanie Balloo Real Life Editor04:04, 01 Jun 2025 A dad-of-one has expressed his fears for his new baby as rats were filmed scuttling around outside his temporary

home.

Kian Jones pleaded with Birmingham city council to find him, his partner and six-month-old daughter a two-bedroom flat amid the problems.

‌ The 25-year-old, whose partner is 23, said he was concerned for his little one's health as she was born prematurely, and is now having to live share a garden with rodents and piled-up

bins.

‌ Read more: 'My mum was told I'd die at birth - I lived to tell the tale and now celebrate little victories'

The family, who live on Fox Hollies Road in Acocks Green, are in the highest priority banding - Band A - but are still falling 100th or more on the bidding list for properties.

Video from outside the property shows rats running around close to a mound of bin bags piled up on the communal bins.

Article continues below Rubbish is also collecting on the landings inside the temporary accommodation, he says.

(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live) Mr Jones told BirminghamLive: "There's rubbish all over the property, in the landings, outside and it's attracting rats. It's a big issue because we

use the outside for the baby. So it's just always causing issues. "I'm concerned about the baby's health. She was premature as well so that makes it a bit worse."I've got a video of rats

right outside the door so if the baby was outside, it's where she would have been sitting.

‌ "I'd just like them to give us a property really, that's it. All we're asking for is a two-bed flat, it's not too much to ask for really, I think it's a bit unfair we have to go through

this as a young couple as well."

He added: "We’re band A and we’re coming over a hundred on the list sometimes it’s more than that."

The piled-up bins outside the temporary housing on Fox Hollies Road‌ Birmingham city council said the demand for housing has "never been higher" amid the national crisis. A spokesperson

said:

"The council is doing all it can to build new, warm, safe, sustainable homes to reduce the need for temporary accommodation.

"However, the scale of the national housing crisis means that the current rate of house building is not keeping up with demand and this severely restricts what options we can offer to people

in need.

‌ “Due to the shortage of accommodation, we encourage all citizens in housing to look at all options, to approach the council as early as possible, and to look to apply to Housing

Associations and the private rented sector.

“During the last 3 weeks the Council has not been able to collect waste due to Unite the Union picketers and protestors blocking our refuse trucks from leaving our depots, therefore we were

not able to collect any waste, including waste from tower blocks and flats.

"However, since the interim injunction has been in place, our crews will be emptying the bins to the flats over the weekend. We appreciate residents’ patience under these difficult

circumstances.”

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