A RESIDENT has hit out at her housing association after getting involved in a “horrifying” mutual exchange agreement.

Rhianne Walton, 26, agreed to move into a new property on Chineham Park Court but was left shocked by the poor state of the house by the previous tenants.

The property, which belongs to Sentinel Housing Association, was, on first inspection, a respectable three-bedroom house, but after its former users left it smelt of cat urine, had damaged carpets and unclean and unhoovered rooms. 

Miss Walton, who was set to move into the property with her seven-year-old daughter, has now been forced to move into her mother’s house until the house is clean.

“I was absolutely horrified to be honest,” Miss Walton told The Gazette.

“I couldn’t believe it. I spent an absolute age cleaning my house so it was in a good condition for them and when I got here the smell was just overwhelming.

“As far as I’m concerned the floorboards in this house are damaged because they have absorbed the smell of cat urine but Sentinel are refusing to help me.

“When I viewed the house there wasn’t a smell – except where there was a litter tray – but moving the furniture must have awoken the smell.

“There’s so much pressure on me now because I have to fork out for storage and look after my daughter.”

Miss Walton, who works six days a week at a local pet shop, has made numerous complaints to Sentinel along with her mother – Mandy Gillies. 

Mrs Gillies said Sentinel have refused to help as the problems with the house isn’t technically in need of repair.

She added: “It’s rubbing salt into the wound because last time Rhianne moved five years ago she spent ages cleaning but to say this isn’t a repair when it smells this bad is ridiculous.”

Chantal Mitchell, Sentinel’s lettings and HomeTeam performance manager, said: “When people mutually exchange their home they are in control of the process.

“So, they find someone they want to swap homes with, and view the property before applying to us for an exchange,” she added.

“During the process they get to decide whether they want to keep things like carpets and curtains.

“It’s made clear that they’re agreeing to take the property in its current condition which will include cleaning. 

“We haven’t been told about any repairs being needed in this property but we will be following this up with the customer.”