A family in Taunton has been compelled to live in a tent outside their home due to a strong ammonia odor permeating their council flat. Reece Lee, his partner Alishia-Skye Davis, and their three-year-old son moved into 25 Bossington Drive on March 30 following a three-way mutual swap of council properties.
However, their new home was far from welcoming. The flat reportedly reeks of ammonia, making it nearly uninhabitable. Mr. Lee described lifting the vinyl flooring to find it soaked in dog faeces and urine, with a similarly unstable and odorous kitchen floor. The foul stench has worsened since their move-in, affecting their son’s health.
“My three-year-old is coughing every night,” Mr. Lee said, expressing frustration over the family’s living conditions. Alishia-Skye added that when parts of the vinyl floor were removed and taken to the tip, the grass underneath had died, indicating severe contamination.
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Despite living in council housing for 14 years, Mr. Lee said this was the first time he encountered such poor conditions. After raising a formal complaint on May 29, highlighting health concerns for his son and safety issues, he revealed fears about speaking out due to potential eviction. However, recent changes in renters' rights protect tenants from ‘no-fault’ evictions.
Presently, the family is living in a tent on the green space outside their flat, using the kitchen and bathroom only briefly due to the corrosive air quality. Mr. Lee worries about his son’s lung health, noting the boy’s existing chest problems that these conditions only exacerbate.
Somerset Council has apologized and acknowledged the distress caused. The council insists the property was inspected and deemed acceptable prior to the family moving in, with no previous reports of contamination. The odor was first reported on May 18, prompting inspections on May 27 and June 4.
Efforts to rectify the issue include a specialist deep clean scheduled by June 14, application of latex treatment on the floors, and installation of new anti-slip flooring by July 3. The council states that alternative accommodation should not be necessary during the repair period. Once the work is complete, further inspections will determine if additional measures are needed.
Somerset Council manages around 10,000 homes and plans to add at least 580 new properties by 2030, many in Taunton and along the M5 corridor, aiming to improve housing quality for residents.