By BRIDGET COOK
RATS have been the cause of distress for an elderly Clyde North woman after they ravaged her new home, causing leaks and parts of her ceiling to collapse.
The rats are running rampant in Ann Barker’s roof and have chewed through about 10 water pipes.
Ms Barker, 75, said she was unaware of the rat infestation until last week when she went into her ensuite to find water pouring out of the light and then part of the roof caving in.
“The ceiling fell on my head,” she said.
“There is also now a big hole in the roof of the main bathroom and water running down the outside of both sides of my house.”
Ms Barker said she only moved into her brand new home, in the Berwick Waters estate, four months ago.
“I’m just devastated to be quite honest,” she said.
“I should be enjoying my new home, but I’m having to deal with this.
“I live alone and it’s just going to be another cost on top of recently building this house.
“I have been told that my insurance does not cover damage from rats.
“It makes you wonder quite honestly why we bother paying for insurance.”
Ms Barker said no one seemed to know why her house had become home to so many rats, so the responsibility of footing the bill would be left to her.
“I’m just feeling my way through the whole situation at the moment,” she said.
“The builder doesn’t seem to know why.
“Maybe the people who manufacture the pipes need to look at what they’re doing.”
Ms Barker said she was still living at home, but just had to keep the bathroom doors closed until the problems could be fixed.
Ms Barker’s builders have reportedly said they were confident the pipes complied with standards, and they hadn’t had problems with rats in other houses.
A spokesperson from CGU, Ms Barker’s home insurance provider, said they would undertake a detailed assessment of her claim.
“At CGU, we are committed to fair and transparent decision making for our customers,” the spokesperson said.
“When a claim is lodged, we take great care to review the circumstances of the loss to ensure the full entitlement under the policy cover is received.
“Following lodgement of this claim, CGU is currently undertaking a detailed assessment and review.
“CGU takes privacy very seriously and it is inappropriate for us to comment on this particular matter at this time,” the spokesperson said.
