Resident of 17 years Nick Barlow, 39, who works in hospitality, said he used be very proud of where he lived, but described his home as “embarrassing”.
“In the last three days I’ve seen eight rats, and I keep finding cockroaches everywhere in my apartment.
“But like everyone else here, I can’t afford to just up and move, and and we shouldn’t have to, either. We’re paying for the building to be maintained.”
Other residents told of a man in a wheelchair who had to be carried up three flights by his wife, cockroaches falling on people’s heads, and dogs facing off against rats in the car park, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
A spokesperson for Onward Homes said: “We apologise for the distress and inconvenience that has been caused to residents of Camp Street arising from the lift breaking down and the time to source and fit specialist parts.
“The lift is now in full working order.”
It added: “We want to reassure residents that we are committed to tackling pests as an absolute priority.
“A pest control programme is underway across the whole estate, which includes a baiting programme and closure of any identified entry points.
“This work will continue until these issues are fully resolved.”