A HAMPSHIRE woman says she is at the ‘end of her tether’ after the derelict house next door has become over-run with vermin which is posing a health risk to her family.

Natalie Sheen who lives in Coxford, Southampton, told the Echo she was fed up with dealing with the eyesore property which is home to rats, huge wasps nests and an overgrown garden dubbed the ‘urban jungle’.

The Southampton City Council-owned property in Outer Circle, off Aldermoor Avenue has been empty since November 2014, seven months after Natalie and her family moved in next door.

She says she began complaining to the council about the state of neglected property shortly after arriving in Outer Circle.

Natalie, who lives with her two-year-old daughter, and her blind father, 63, said that it was unfair that people in road should be forced to live alongside an unsightly health hazard.

The 24-year-old said: “I’ve been putting up with this for the last three years and can no longer cope.

“The house next door is simply a ruin, it is a complete wreck that the council are not even paying attention to.

“There is a swarm of rats the size of size nine shoes that come into our garden.

“I cannot even let my two-year-old child or puppy play in the garden because the rats could give them rabies and infect them.”

Recently, part of Natalie new fencing started to bend into her garden under the weight of the overgrown vegetation next door.

She added: “We pay council tax and rent directly to the council for the property but they’re clearly not good at delivering maintenance and repair services, that house smells and all the windows are yellow.”

Councillor Keith Morrell confirmed that Natalie had been in touch with him and he is taking the matter up with Southampton City Council.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council added: “The council is making enquiries in relation to this property and will arrange for an inspection to be carried out, if any urgent remedial work is needed this will be actioned immediately.”