A mum has been offered compensation after living with a rodent infestation for seven years.

Laura Clout says her housing association property, in Hardstown, Chatham, has been riddled with mice and rats since she moved in.

The 37-year-old is so scared of the creatures that she refuses to leave her bed at night, even for the toilet – this has resulted in her contracting a urinary tract infection.

Laura said: "I live in a three-storey townhouse and when we moved in seven years ago the property was never finished properly.

"There are no solid foundations and holes everywhere. Because of this mice, and now rats, have been able to enter my home.

"Orbit Housing, who own the house, are meant to help and support me but they're not sticking to their word. "

The mum-of-three has spent hundreds on mouse traps and pest control.

She said: "It doesn't matter what I do.

"The holes around the property mean they just keep getting inside.

"I'm petrified of mice so this is the worst possible thing to happen to me.

"There have been times when I've been stuck on the worktop unable to move when I've seen one."

Laura, who works two jobs as a dinner lady and cleaner, is desperate to move house.

She said: "I can't lie to people, so when they ask me why I want to move I explain the situation.

"It's no surprise that no one else wants to move in."

Laura has had no internet at times due to mice eating through the cables.

She has also seen the mice emerging from underneath her fridge and even running across her bedroom floor.

There are two main things that can attract mice and rats into a house, these are food and shelter.

Therefore, even if Laura does ensure that food waste is disposed of properly rats and mice will still try and find somewhere warm to live, particularly during the winter.

Laura claims that Orbit have not returned her calls or offered her support.

She said: "The few times I have been able to speak to Orbit they've offered to pay for Rent a Kill.

"But it isn't about the money I just want the problem sorted.

"Mice just walk into my property like it is nothing."

The housing association has said that they have been in touch with Laura.

A spokesperson for Orbit said: "We are taking Ms Clout’s concerns seriously.

"Our pest control contractors have visited the property on numerous occasions but, unfortunately, it is taking longer than we would like to find a solution to the issue.

"Our contractors last visited the property on Tuesday, November 29, and Ms Clout has been offered compensation for the delays and inconvenience caused whilst we continue to work to resolve the issues that she’s experiencing.”

Ms Clout said she has been offered £220 which she was due to receive on November 25.

She said: "I still haven't received it yet but £220 is laughable anyway.

"They've offered me pennies for the last seven years of mouse infestation."