A family in Taunton has been compelled to live in a tent outside their council flat after discovering a severe ammonia odor that made their home uninhabitable. Reece Lee, his partner Alishia-Skye Davis, and their three-year-old son moved into the property at 25 Bossington Drive on March 30 following a three-way mutual swap arranged by the council.
From the outset, the family struggled to settle due to an overpowering smell of ammonia emanating from the flat’s floors. Mr. Lee revealed that the vinyl flooring, when lifted, was soaked in dog feces and urine, giving off an unbearable stench. “The kitchen floor is unstable, and the ammonia smell is constant. It’s disgusting,” he said.
The ammonia fumes have had a particularly harmful effect on their young son, who coughs every night and has a history of chest problems. “My child is breathing in this corrosive air, and his cough is worsening day by day,” Mr. Lee shared. Concerned for their health, the family has limited their time inside the flat, using the kitchen and bathroom only sparingly, while living in a tent pitched on nearby green space.
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After a formal complaint filed on May 29, Somerset Council apologized for the distress caused and acknowledged the need for urgent repairs. The council confirmed that while the property was inspected before the family moved in and no issues were detected, they are now taking steps to address the problem. Planned actions include a specialist deep clean of the affected floor area, sealing the floor with latex, and installing new anti-slip flooring by early July.
Somerset Council emphasized that alternative accommodation should not be necessary during the repairs. They also noted that no similar issues have been reported in adjacent flats, some of which are council-owned and others privately owned.
Despite efforts to resolve the situation, Mr. Lee described feeling ill from exposure and expressed frustration with the council’s initial response. “It’s their responsibility to fix this – they can’t just ignore it,” he said.
The family’s predicament highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining council housing standards, with Somerset Council managing around 10,000 homes and planning to add at least 580 more by 2030.