Rat row as Kingswells residents blame housebuilder for vermin

The rodent that appeared in a garden has sparked further conflict in a bitter feud between the parties.

By Chris Cromar

December 17 2024, 5:59 pm

Nikki Duffus was shocked to see the rat in her garden. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson.

The discovery of a dead rat has reignited a six-year feud between Kingswells residents and an Aberdeenshire housebuilder.

Nikki Duffus, who has led the grudge against the firm over factoring, claims the area is being plagued by vermin.

The 71-year-old, who lives at Midmar View in the Aberdeen suburb, found a dead rat in her garden and blames Malcolm Allan Housebuilders for this.

The firm stood down as the factor for the area in 2018 after around 25 years. It now has no responsibility over the land.

It’s understood a pest control report revealed there is no evidence the rodent came from the area once-maintained by Malcolm Allan.

Nikki Duffus and dead rat. — Kingswells resident Nikki Duffus was shocked when she found a dead rat in her garden. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson.

How did the feud begin?

1990: Malcolm Allan Housebuilders purchases land from Stewart Milne Homes and build The Ridges.
2018: Malcolm Allan stops factoring and a number of residents refuse to pay James Gibb Residential Factors for the upkeep of trees, grass and paths in the area, forcing the factor to resign.
2018: The Kintore-based housebuilder is reported to the police, with Ms Duffus claiming they broke the law by failing to register as a factor.
2018: Aberdeen City Council refuses to adopt the land.
2019: A cohort of neighbours are successful at the Lands Tribunal for Scotland about residents not being forced to pay for the maintenance of the amenity land.

Dead rat Kingswells. — The dead rat that was found at a property at Midmar View in Kingswells. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson.

Dead rat ‘a real worry’

“The rats are coming from Malcolm Allan‘s unkempt, neglected land,” Ms Duffus claims.

Neighbours have also had to have pest controllers in.

“Malcolm Allan hasn’t maintained his land for seven years. Pest controllers have said there’s every chance the rats are coming from his land,” she added.

However, Malcolm Allan Housebuilders deny this.

Director Bruce Allan said: “The pest control officer’s report stated that no evidence of rat activity was found at or on the amenity areas.

“It said that they would most probably live near the houses, such as under shed bases or patio decking. These areas would be closer to potential food sources.”