A mum-of-three has refused to move into a home provided by the council because “it smelt like a dead person” had been in there.

Gemma McDonald said the property in Chatham was unsuitable for her two sons and daughter who has a little-known condition called escapism in which she is prone to leap out of a window when under stress.

When Ms McDonald went to view the maisonette in Albert Road she claimed there was drug paraphernalia, dead flies, mice, mould and excrement.

She said she was told by a council officer there were no funds for a deep clean and if she turned down the housing she would have to declare herself “homeless” and be referred to social services.

She said: “That place is not fit for any human being. It’s basically a squat.

“I have put all my stuff into storage at my mum and dad’s and my aunt’s.

“My children are having to stay with my mum and dad and I’m having to sofa surf until this is sorted out.

“It’s disgraceful.”

Both she and her children, Ivy, 10, John Junior, seven and Freddie, four, have medical needs.

She is particularly worried about Ivy’s condition which could endanger her life.

She said: “She has no fear. If something distracts her she will just try and escape. When she was younger she just ran off.

“She has trouble sleeping, so could just go off and even jump out of a window.,

“We can now preempt what might happen but she has had some near misses in the past.”

Ms McDonald suffers from autism and ADHD and is being tested for bipolar

The family has spent the last two-and-a-half years in temporary accommodation in Gillingham.

A Medway Council spokesman said: “We are committed to helping Medway’s most vulnerable residents. We commission a range of accommodation for people who have nowhere to live to ensure they have somewhere to temporarily stay.

“As we do with all cases, we have worked with the resident to find suitable permanent accommodation and have provided support and advised what their options are throughout the process.

“We provide advice and support to those living in temporary accommodation to help them find permanent homes as quickly as possible.”

Ms McDonald has asked the council to review the accommodation and take into account their medical needs.