RUBY Glasspool and Erica Abi-Karam have never been superstitious.

So when the couple viewed their dream first home together, the number 13 hanging on the door did little to deter them from excitedly laying down a rental deposit.

But the catalogue of bad luck which has besieged the pair since they moved to the quaint cottage in Wheatley has led them to rethink their view on the old wives’ tale.

Ms Glasspool and Ms Abi- Karam first viewed number 13, Bell Lane, on April Fools’ day and were immediately charmed by the white stone cottage, nestled in a row of homes off the village High Street.

Weeks later they moved in and soon realised their ideal home was not all it seemed.

They said the house was infested with rats, was home to a thriving bees’ nest and was ridden with wood lice.

The roof was missing tiles and within days of arriving the couple claim they were left with sewage pouring down the walls of the dining room.

Miss Glasspool, 28, said: “There were big holes in the roof, tiles missing, rats in the attic, a nest of around 300 bees and woodlice all over the floor.

“After one week of inhabiting the property when we flushed the toilet, the system packed up and sewage water flooded through the floorboards, straight into our dining room, which as I’m sure you can imagine wasn’t a very pleasant experience.

“Anything you can possibly imagine to go wrong, has done.”

The couple, who are still living in the house, employed tradesmen and called in pest control.

Miss Glasspool has now made an official complaint about the home.

The pair are also in the process of trying to reclaim some of the money they have spent trying to fix their home.

Miss Glasspool said: “If it wasn’t for a man in the village, who has become something of a hero of ours, we would not be able to stay in the house.

“It was pretty much our dream home and we were looking forward to living together there, so it is very upsetting.

“We have been joking about the fact that it is number 13.

“We were not superstitious but there have been so many things that have gone wrong and so many problems, who knows, maybe there is something in it?”

A spokesman for Allen and Harris, which acted as the letting agent for the property, said the firm was unable to comment as an official complaint had been made and was in the process of being investigated.