Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has been accused of allowing renters at buildings he owns in the Netherlands to live in claimed “rat-infested” conditions.

The Dutch celebrity, who earns over £130,000 each week, has used his wealth to invest in property in five towns in his home country through his firm Samaritan. According to the Mirror, Gakpo charges rent of up to €875 a month (£754) through letting agents for what is described as a wet basement unit covered with mould, and €850 per month (£733) for another apartment said to be so tiny that renters must walk sideways to get to the front door.

The average monthly rent in this neighborhood is €560 (£500). Furious homeowners have lambasted conditions in certain homes, claiming they are “not fit for human habitation,” have structural concerns, and are infested with vermin, and that the quality of renovations is inadequate.

The 24-year-old is Samaritan’s sole stakeholder, with properties in Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Roermond, Weert, and Geleen. Gakpo is a devoted Christian who leads a Bible group in the Dutch squad that has prayer meetings prior to international matches.

However, he is facing growing domestic criticism when the provincial newspaper De Limburger published serious claims concerning his property portfolio. According to reports, Gakpo employs Stefan Stals, an Elevate Finance staffer who handles tenant complaints and collects rent.

Stals denied there was a problem with rats and stated that the homes’ maintenance issues had been addressed adequately. However, he admitted that he had only checked the condition of four of Gakpo’s 11 Roermond flats. Stals also admitted there was a mouse problem.

He stated: “There was a nuisance from mice. We had them exterminated. The property is well-maintained.”

However, photographs taken by De Limburger appear to show signs of extreme neglect in several of the apartment complexes, including dead mice left to decompose on filthy stairwells, mouldy walls, loose cables, and cracks in plasterwork.

Ricardo Silva, a resident, pointed to a breach in his ceiling and stated, “A rat fell through there into my living room.” It terrified me to death. I saw it running. The rat had a lengthy tail. It was clearly not a mouse.”

Another resident, Dewi Kouwenberg, commented: “Do you notice the bite marks on my sofa here? I don’t dare to be here.”

Legal letters addressed to Elevate Finance requesting that residences be improved have yet to get a response. This is despite some residents refusing to store food in cupboards due to a lack of effective pest control.

Gakpo’s football agent, Kees Ploegsma, has declined to comment on the matter, stating that responsibility for the player’s possessions lies with the management business working on his behalf.

Liverpool FC believe it is a personal business concern for Gakpo, hence they have declined to comment