A temporary home supplied by the council will have an urgent inspection after residents reported sightings of a rat infestation, it has been revealed.

A group of nine people moved out of Waltham Forest to a shared temporary home in Sewardstone Road in Epping Forest spoke out about the conditions and lack of clean drinking water at their "uninhabitable" accommodation on Tuesday.

Residents have said they exhausted all avenues of complaints to Ascham Homes, the housing manager for Waltham Forest council, and maintain their health is being put at risk.

There is no working fire alarm, no internet access, a rat infestation and the tap water is considered 'undrinkable' due to its proximity to raw sewage.

John Knight, director of housing solutions at Ascham Homes, said they were only made aware of the situation this week despite claims from residents that they raised the issue last year.

He said: “This is a privately owned property made available for temporary accommodation and managed on our behalf by a managing agent.

"We have spoken to the managing agents to arrange an urgent joint inspection which is due to take place today (August 6). We will also visit and speak to residents on the same day.

“The managing agent advises that the local Environmental Health service have been called to attend to the sightings of rats in a neighbouring private property. We understand the landlord of that property has been contacted to address the overgrown garden and the area has been baited.

“We would point out that an internet connection is not considered an essential requirement for the provision of temporary accommodation.”