Woman says she hasn’t slept in eight months due to scurrying in walls

Claire Johnson, a 31 year old nutritionist, has been tormented by the incessant sound of rodents scurrying in her bedroom walls, causing sleepless nights for nearly eight months.

Having moved to her Bermondsey flat in London two years ago from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Claire started hearing what she believed to be mice since January 2024.

However, since May, the disturbances have grown louder and more regular, making Claire suspect a rat infestation.

The creatures seem to be most active from 2 to 5 a. m.

, relentlessly disrupting Claire’s rest.

Claire shared her distress, saying: “It’s been really difficult to deal with.”

She describes the cacophony of sounds at night: “I can hear them running across the beams of the ceiling at night and sometimes they will bump into each other in the walls and start fighting.”

Claire initially thought mice were to blame, but the intensity of the noise has led her to think otherwise: “I thought they were mice initially but hearing how heavy and loud they sound, I think it might actually be rats.”

Seeking tranquility, Claire often resorts to sleeping on the pull-out sofa in her living room as the disturbance peaks in the bedroom.

Sometimes, the noise even sparks fear of a break-in: “I sometimes even worry someone is picking the lock on my front door before I realise it’s actually coming from the walls.”

Her primary concern is to keep the rodents out of her living space and remove them from within the walls altogether.

Living near the River Thames increases the likelihood of rodent problems, a challenge Claire now faces head-on.

Claire’s landlord took action against a pest problem five weeks ago, setting traps and sealing gaps.

However, the disturbance has only intensified since then.

Claire commented: “My landlord has been really on it with this issue.”

“He is prepared to pay whatever it costs, he is super apologetic and has reduced our rent.”

Despite the initial intervention by pest control, the racket has grown both louder and more persistent, prompting Claire and her landlord to explore other options.

To escape the din, Claire has found herself frequently travelling to Hamburg, Germany, to see her boyfriend or taking trips to Huddersfield for some peace.

Claire explained: “I’m making up reasons to go to Hamburg so I get a break from the noise.”

“I have also visited my parents up north for a week or so just so I can ensure I get some good sleep in.”

“I really like living in London and I moved here to further my career as a nutritionist.”

“But I don’t know if I can deal with living in this flat much longer if this continues.”