A woman has said she feels "violated" by Kingston Council after its contractors entered her home last month (June) without warning.

The woman, who will be referred to as Ms B, said that on 25 June, she returned to her home in Surbiton at around 6.30pm after collecting her kids from school to find police stationed outside her block.

"There were police already there because another resident had been robbed," she told Nub News.

Ms B reported that upon entering her own flat, she noticed that all her flooring and underlay had been "ripped up," and that all the doors in her home were open, despite her always shutting every door before leaving the property.

She said: "I noticed that my doors were open, my clean washing was thrown over the floor, and everything was moved.

"Someone had also gone into my bathroom, opened the cupboard, and moved one of my daughter's collectables, and it was broken.

"I always leave it in the cupboard above the sink, and they put that on the windowsill.

They stood in my bath, and then I noticed that a set of keys was missing, and obviously I didn't know who it was because there was no note, there was nothing.

"So, my first thought was that I'd been robbed."

Ms B immediately called the police after the officers outside told her she needed to report the incident.

However, her downstairs neighbour told her that it was the council that had entered the property.

"But obviously the council hasn't said it's the council," Ms B said.

She added: "It's just word of mouth by that point. I tried calling the council, but they basically said they didn't know anything and advised me to go to the Guildhall and speak to them the following day.

"So, by that point, my kids are distressed, and I'm distressed because all my flooring is ripped up to the bare floorboard.

"And because someone took a set of keys, a key and a fob to the front door, I didn't feel safe. My two children didn't feel safe, and I've got a newborn baby."

Ms B said that she and her children went to stay at her sister's house, who also lives in Kingston, due to feeling unsafe.

The following day, Ms B went to the Guildhall to speak to the council, but was "left waiting there for hours", she said.

She explained that, having only moved into her home in March, she was not sure who her housing manager is, so asked reception for help.

"But they were not helpful, and I was left waiting for three hours," she said.

While waiting at the Guildhall, Ms B's young daughter was attacked by a dog.

Ms B told Nub News: "At the time, there was a lady there with two dogs, though not guide dogs.

"My daughter ran past the two dogs to come towards me because I was at the reception bit, and one of the dogs literally started barking and jumped onto her, barking into her face.

"The security guard from the Guildhall had to run and grab her and shield her because the dog was still trying to go at her.

"And by that time, reception turned around and told me that no one was in the office, so I would have to email the council, bearing in mind I was already sitting there for a couple of hours waiting for an email back."

Ms B contacted the police about the dog attack and later received a call from the council's contractor Cardo, which confirmed that the council had sent it to Ms B's property.

The mother says that she stayed at her sister's house from 25 June to 1 July as no one could walk on her floor barefoot.

On 1 July, Cardo changed the locks at Ms B's property and told her that someone from the complaints team would contact her.

However, she has still not been contacted almost a month later.

Ms B said: "I put a complaint in to Kingston Council for them coming in without telling me and whatnot, and I've made a separate complaint about the dog attack - it's like a domino effect, and the council never admitted it was them."

While Ms B's daughter did not suffer any serious injuries from the dog attack, her mother says that she is now terrified of dogs.

Ms B said: "Before, when I'd take my daughter for a walk to the park and whatnot, and she'd see a dog or if a dog came up to her, she'd just be smiling.

"And if the dog was friendly, she would try and pet it. But now, if she sees a dog, she runs, and she wants to go to the opposite side, and she just doesn't want anything to do with it, which I can't blame her for."

Ms B reported that she eventually got in touch with a council member who told her that there were no reports of anyone living in her property. She also found out that Cardo entered her property on 8 June without her knowing.

"So that's obviously made me even more upset, and I feel violated," said Ms B.

She added: "Even though the locks have been changed and no one has the new key, I'm still worried because someone does still have the old set of keys."

Ms B eventually received an email informing her that her stage one complaint had been upheld and that the council "made several failures".

The mother said: "They apologised in the email, but obviously that doesn't help me. My kids are scared to be at home now, and my oldest is getting assessed for additional needs.

"It sounds horrible, but they won't leave me alone. They won't sleep in their room by themselves, so we're all sleeping in my room.

"If I move to one room from, say, the kitchen to the front room, they're following me because they don't want to be alone."

She continued: " It's unfair on me and my children and my newborn baby - we feel vulnerable even though we only moved in in March.

"I just want to be in a place where me and my kids feel safe."

Ms B said that her flooring has still not been sorted since it was taken up.

She said: "They said it was because of a leak, but I obviously didn't know I had a leak. It took Smith and Byford about a week to come out, and I had no hot water for a week, so that was another issue.

"As there's no longer any flooring, my kids always have to wear shoes or Crocs indoors, or they will get splinters in their feet. And as my eldest is getting assessed for autism, it's very difficult for her because she has sensory issues."

A Kingston Council spokesperson told Nub News: "This is an official complaint which we are investigating. As such, our priority is to complete the investigation and respond to our resident first. So we are not able to comment at this time."

A Met Police spokesperson added: "Police received reports of a dog attack in Kingston Guildhall at 15:20hrs on Friday, 26 June.

"A girl was reported to have been scratched by a dog. Her injuries were deemed not life-threatening nor life-changing.

"No arrests have been made, and enquiries remain ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting 01/7739239/26."