A Warwickshire couple have been left distraught after discovering their flat had been turned into a squalid nightmare by a tenant – who paid rent only once during a staggering seven-year stay and left behind an appalling mess of human waste, thousands of urine-filled beer cans, and extensive property damage.
Sandra, 58, and Chris Considine, 70, of Nuneaton, had originally offered the two-bedroom property to a friend in need in 2018, charging just £30 a week in what they describe as an act of good will to help someone down on their luck. The tenant, a former colleague of Chris’s, was reportedly living in a tent prior to being offered shelter by the couple. However, after an initial period of contact and the first week’s rent payment, the arrangement rapidly deteriorated.
Within weeks, the tenant ceased communication, refused to grant access for inspections, and remained in the flat for seven years without paying further rent, effectively barring the landlords from the property. Legal action proved challenging, reportedly due to the informal nature of the letting agreement. With the tenant finally departing in January this year, the Considines were only able to reclaim their property in June—only to be met with shocking scenes of neglect and filth.
Upon re-entering the flat, Sandra and Chris were confronted by a truly distressing sight. Every room was reportedly filled, waist-high in parts, with empty and urine-filled beer cans. Piles of takeaway containers mingled with bags containing human excrement. The bathroom fixtures, kitchen appliances, carpets and furniture were all found damaged or ruined, deepening the devastation for the couple. Images taken at the scene reveal mounds of cans stacked higher than the furniture, in what the landlords described as an “inhumane” environment.
The stench of stale urine permeated the atmosphere, creating a health hazard both for the Considines and their surrounding neighbours. Sandra explained their urgent need to begin clearing the most hazardous rubbish immediately, fearing the odour would worsen during the ongoing heatwave and potentially seep into neighbouring flats.
Chris, a former DPD worker who is now living with incurable cancer and has had to give up employment, described the ordeal as unbearable. “The apartment was unrecognisable; you couldn’t move without risking cans full of urine spilling out. The scale of degradation in just a few years is almost beyond belief,” he said. Sandra echoed these sentiments, saying, “I felt sorry for the lad at first, but never thought it would end like this. We were only trying to help and now we just feel completely exploited.”
The family also faces mounting financial strain. In addition to the considerable costs involved in cleaning and repairing the damage, there are concerns about significant water and electricity bills accrued over the period of unauthorised occupation. The entire ordeal has left the couple feeling exhausted and victimised.
Rose Considine, Sandra and Chris’s daughter, has launched a fundraising campaign in hopes of assisting her parents with cleaning and repair costs. She vividly described the immensity of the clean-up. “It’s absolutely unliveable in there – every single room is overloaded with cans, many of which contain urine, and there are even bags of faeces. This is more than just a cleaning job; it’s a serious health risk.” Rose estimates that the costs involved could well exceed £500, as the flat may require professional fumigation and complete refitting of many appliances and fixtures.
The situation highlights the potential risks of renting informally, particularly without a proper tenancy agreement in place. It also underlines the difficulties some landlords – especially those acting on goodwill – face when tenants refuse to cooperate or vacate a property. The Considines say they never regarded themselves as landlords, having simply hoped to help someone back on their feet.
As the family works through the emotional and financial aftermath, Rose expressed hope that public support might help provide some relief. “We did this as a kindness, and now my parents have been left with a nightmare. They were completely taken advantage of, and I hope sharing what happened will encourage others to take precautions—and perhaps inspire a bit of community support for my family as they try to overcome this ordeal.”