A Gloucestershire family from Coleford have been living with a relentless bed bug infestation since April 2025, forcing them to sleep in their living room and avoid using their bedrooms.
Stephen Long, 47, his partner Jen Brown, 46, and their 20-year-old stepdaughter, who all have various health conditions and disabilities, report feeling trapped in their own home amid the ongoing problem. Despite multiple pest control treatments and specialist heat interventions funded by their housing association, Stonewater, the family continue to find blood-sucking bed bugs in their property.
Mr Long, who lives with COPD, arthritis, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain, emphasised the physical discomfort caused by having to sleep on a small two-seater sofa. Ms Brown, who has arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, and high blood pressure, discovered the infestation after spotting insects she initially mistook for beetles.
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“We were unaware we’d been dealing with bed bugs for some time,” Ms Brown said, explaining how Google Lens helped identify the pests. The family have taken precautions such as rarely leaving the house and having groceries delivered to avoid spreading the infestation.
Mr Long expressed frustration with the ongoing situation and the lack of resolution, stating, “It just seems like it’s never going to end. It’s unbelievable.” He also refuted claims that the family might be responsible for reintroducing the bed bugs into their home.
“Neither Jen nor I work, and we’re frightened of transferring bed bugs elsewhere,” Mr Long added. The infestation has also led to social isolation, as both the family and their support network avoid visiting each other’s homes due to infestation risks.
Stonewater acknowledged the difficulties faced by the family and detailed the extensive efforts made over the past 16 months to address the problem. This included multiple treatments, specialist inspections, canine detection, and replacement of household items like mattresses, bedding, sofas, and bed bases. They also helped the family access a grant from their charitable arm, Longleigh, to cover essential costs.
A Stonewater spokesperson said, “We are disappointed that despite considerable effort and treatments over a long period, the issue remained unresolved. Our pest management policy states that bed bug infestations in individual homes are normally the customer’s responsibility. However, we worked closely with Mr Long, funding several treatments and offering financial and practical assistance.”
The spokesperson clarified that Stonewater does not blame the family for the infestation, recognising how difficult bed bugs can be to eradicate. They also stated that the treatments they were able to fund have been exhausted and provided Mr Long with contact details for pest control providers he can approach directly.
Mr Long confirmed receiving the Longleigh grant but emphasised that it did not cover further bed bug treatment. The family continue to face the challenge of living with the unrelenting infestation while seeking a lasting solution.