Mice in rental property 4 months into tenancy
I would like some clarification as to who is responsible for dealing with mice in the property please.
The tenant has been in since September and in late January, she discovered mice droppings in her wardrobe. Mice have chewed through the bottom of her wardrobe and gained access. She said that she had chocolate and other foods in her room.
We contacted pest control agents who came to sort it out the next day. However, it involved two visits, two weeks apart and she refused to move back into her room until it was definitely clear. During this time, another tenant offered her his room!!
Her Dad then called to complain to us that we have not done enough and it is the landlord’s responsibility etc… We called the pest control within 1 hour of us being informed,by phone (unfortunately her email to me went to spam and I did not know for 2 days). There was also few days’ delay in getting access in between visits as they were usually out during the day.
I would be grateful for some clarification as to who exactly should be responsible in this situation please.
Many thanks
Alice
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
Previous Article
Bank of England quarterly inflation report summaryNext Article
Land grab at tenanted property by new neighbour
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12196 - Articles: 1396
12:42 PM, 14th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Hi Alice
Our guest columnist, Glenn Ackroyd wrote an excellent article about responsibilities for pests back in September 2012. This should answer your questions 🙂
See >>> https://www.property118.com/pest-control-landlords-or-tenants-responsibility/32120/
.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 282 - Articles: 2
12:55 PM, 14th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Alice,
Have a look to see if there are any other reasons too.
One of my tenants insisted on piling black bin bags full of rubbish right outside the back door, encouraging mice to the house in the first place.
They started appearing in the understairs cupboard, looking for further food.
Already knowing she had mice (she had been putting down traps) she leaves it to a saturday afternoon to ring me and complain, even though I’d already given her the contact for the pest control. !!!
– You are not the only one who has had problems like this !!! 🙂
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 704
4:12 PM, 14th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Clear tenant liability the chocolates attracted them.
Had this occurred immediately she moved in, or there was prior evidence of little visitors, different.
In this case clear tenant liability.
Have a nice week-end everyone Iwill be back with final comment on the late deposit protection fines thread
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12196 - Articles: 1396
4:21 PM, 14th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Industry Observer ” at “14/02/2014 – 16:12“:
Have a nice weekend yourself IO.
PS – you’ve already made at least half a dozen FINAL posts on the late deposit protection fines thread. Where you a cat in a former life by any chance? 😉 LOL
.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 282 - Articles: 2
4:25 PM, 14th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Mark Alexander” at “14/02/2014 – 16:21“:
That gives me an idea….
– Buy your tenant some presents to win her over, one of which could be a pet cat ! – But only if the landlord/lady agrees to it !! 🙂 it might be excluded in the Tenancy Agreement 🙁
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 128
10:28 AM, 15th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Try saying your contract clearly Corre
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 126
10:52 AM, 15th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Why was your tenant leaving food in the bottom of a wardrobe and in her room?Mice have the ability to detect food from some distance. So it was the food that attracted them.
Pests are never far away. So onus is on individuals to take appropriate care.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 646 - Articles: 1
12:29 AM, 16th February 2014, About 12 years ago
its virtually impossible to mouse proof, especially older buildings. s.11 L&T Act 1985 does not make pests a landlord responsibility per se. however, this sounds like its an HMO and so the tenant could argue its a LL responsibility under EPA if the mice came from a communal or other part.
re ‘piling black bin bags full of rubbish right outside the back door’, my unpopular previously posted suggestion of ideally monthly inspections would have nipped this in bud.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 282 - Articles: 2
12:56 AM, 16th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Joe Bloggs” at “16/02/2014 – 00:29“:
Hi Joe,
I only lived a couple of doors away at the time, and no matter how many times we tried to educate her as to what went in the ‘green’ bin, and what in the ‘black’ bin, she insisted on piling all her rubbish in the black bin, then at the end of a week, after black bin day week, she would start complaining her bin was full and then put stuff in bin bags and put them outside her back door.
– I tell you, I wasn’t going to go through her bags and sort it out into ‘green’ and ‘black’ bin waste !!! – No Way !!
She was a bit of a consumerist, so had loads of rubbish, alot of packaging, from toys for the kid!!
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 646 - Articles: 1
1:04 AM, 16th February 2014, About 12 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Jeremy Smith” at “16/02/2014 – 00:56“:
hi jeremy,
perhaps a letter or e-mail confirming the consequences of her actions, e.g. attracting rodents and being responsible for the cost of eradication and any damage (they chew cables as well) would have helped focus minds.
was not suggesting you sort her rubbish.