A Birmingham couple has alleged that their one-year-old son was left 'covered in bed bug bites' while staying at the Strathallen Hotel on Hagley Road, where they were placed in temporary housing. The family, who are 17 and 18 years old, reported that their toddler was 'screaming, crying, and scratching' every night due to the pests.
Family's Ordeal
The couple, experiencing independent living for the first time, said they also discovered bites on themselves. A letter from their GP, seen by BirminghamLive, stated that the marks 'appears to be bed bug bites seen on legs and back' and advised them to return if an infection develops. The family had been living at the hotel since April 15 and initially complained about bed bugs, leading to a room change within the hotel.
Speaking before the move, the mother said: 'We are basically stuck in the room with bed bugs. It's a massive safeguarding concern. At night, even in the day, but especially at night, our toddler is just screaming for three hours on end. He won't go to sleep, he is just scratching. He is not properly drinking his milk or juice. He's got cuts from where he's been scratching his skin open.'
The couple had previously lived with the father's mother before being moved to the hotel to await a bidding number. They described the situation as unsafe, fearing infections and disrupted sleep for their child's development. The bites were concentrated on the toddler's back and nappy area, with cuts on his stomach.
Hotel Conditions
The family also complained about the hotel's cleanliness, citing a blood stain on the lift floor and a thick layer of dirt on skirting boards. 'The rooms are meant to be cleaned before, but the room was disgusting. There was mould, the carpets are disgusting. We don't even want him playing on the floor,' the mother added.
They reported blood stains on the bed from the bugs and have complained to both the hotel, operated by Best Western, and Birmingham City Council. 'They are saying there is not much they can do until they have proof, but we have already sent photos. It's hard to get a photo of them running around because they hide,' she said.
Council Response
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'We are sorry to hear about her recent experience and the impact it's having on her family: we expect the highest standards from our temporary accommodation providers. Officers have been investigating this case and on Tuesday (May 5) the family were being moved to a self-contained unit. Pest control have also visited the premises and advised that they did not find any evidence of bed bug activity. The council is doing all it can to build new, warm, safe and sustainable homes to reduce the need for temporary accommodation. However, the scale of the national housing crisis means the current rate of house building is not keeping up with demand – which severely restricts the options we can offer to people in need.'
The family has since been moved to a self-contained unit, as confirmed by the authority. BirminghamLive has invited others affected by similar issues to come forward.
