Cheeky squirrels use scaffolding to break into homes and steal food from locals | UK | News

Cheeky squirrels are using scaffolding to sneak into homes and steal their food, leaving residents « petrified ».

The crafty creatures have been climbing through windows at Sumner Buildings, near the Tate Modern in London. The City of London Corporation put up the scaffolding 18 months ago to fix old windows on the block in Southwark.

They want to replace the original windows and doors from the 1930s, but some people living there have been left frustrated because their windows already show signs of mould and rot. Residents have also complained that the work is taking forever, with deadlines getting pushed back further and further. 

Professor Mark Miodownik, who has a flat at the top with his family and has lived there for over 25 years, says the squirrels are everywhere. He said: « The squirrels are constantly up and down the scaffolding.

« If you leave a window open, they’re always poking their little heads in. They have the run of the place now – they think the scaffolding is all for them. They love it. If you leave windows open, they come in and steal snacks. »

But while Professor Miodownik doesn’t want to hurt the squirrels, not everyone agrees with him.

NHS volunteer Jackie, a long-time resident of the estate, admits she’s « frightened » of the bold rodents that have become more daring since the scaffolding was erected 18 months ago.

« I live on the top floor, » she shared. « We never had them before the scaffolding – especially at the top.

« The birds nest on them as well. If you leave your windows open the squirrels will venture in. I was chopping up strawberries last year and when I came back into the kitchen a squirrel was trying to get to them. Sometimes they hide behind towels when you hang them on the balcony.

“They have got more and more daring. It’s all a big game to them. I’ve had to throw away the grass on my balcony because they peed on it. They don’t care. At first I would shoo them away but now they don’t move. It’s just not on.

“They frighten me. They’re actually worse than foxes. You have to chuck a bucket of water over them to get them to move. They usually come around April; last year there were about eight to ten of them.

“When it’s really hot in the summer you have to keep the windows closed. One woman’s husband was chasing one round the kitchen to get it out.”

Joyce Paul, a 65-year-old who has lived on the estate for roughly 27 years, describes the squirrels as a « nightmare ».

Ms Paul, originally from Sunderland, said: « People climb on the scaffolding as well – they’re supposed to be alarmed but they’re not. »

A London resident shared his dismay after spotting numerous squirrels playing on scaffolding outside his home. He said: « They’ve been in a couple of flats and literally wrecked them. It’s got much worse since the scaffolding went up. They use it as a playground.

« We had to get rid of our table and chairs because of the scaffolding. It has been up for 18 months now… It’s the longest-standing scaffolding I’ve ever seen. »

« I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. I think they’ve changed suppliers for the windows so many times. They’ve run out of excuses now. It’s a nightmare. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

« My daughter lives over the road and she’s petrified of the squirrels. I can’t stand them. »

Professor Midownik, who lives in the area, added: « The scaffolding has been up for 18 months now. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher and makes me think they don’t know what they’re doing.

« They’re spending public money. If this was run by a private company, they wouldn’t be spending money like this. It’s more than half a million pounds wasted in a time of austerity. They have not even said when they will be starting the work. »

Professor Midownik, who works at University College London, says some of the windows in his home are now rotting – but he is not permitted to do anything to them himself, despite him being an engineer.

« I don’t think they understand… It’s really bad, » he added. « I think the middle management is responsible.

« The Head of Works at the City of London Corporation needs to resign over this. They need to take responsibility. It’s incompetence. »

Workers from Etec, the company doing the window replacements and related tasks like painting at the buildings, guessed that the work would be done in ‘six to eight weeks’. But residents said they’ve been given similar timeframes for over a year.

Maria White, who has lived on the estate for more than 30 years, was told her ground-floor flat would be the first to get new windows.

« They told me before Christmas it would be two weeks… Every time it’s a couple of weeks, » said the 66-year-old.

Ms White also mentioned that squirrels weren’t such a big issue on the estate until the scaffolding went up – and that rats are also a problem in ground floor flats like hers.

« One squirrel fell on my lap from the scaffolding when I was sat outside the other week, » she shared. « It’s got much worse since the scaffolding went up. It’s the same with the rats. »

A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation stated: « We are investing around £107million in a Housing Major Works Programme to bring all homes across our 12 social housing estates up to a high standard by 2026. This includes a £47m investment in replacement windows.

« It is imperative that the window designs meet the requirements of building regulations and high standards required by the City Corporation and our residents.

« Whilst the window installations at Sumner Buildings have been delayed, redecoration work has progressed. A letter detailing the latest update on the project was sent to residents. »