Rats...NOW....Fly Infestation

ShaShaSha

Hey everyone, this isnt a money issue - but im wondering if anyone can offer some advice.

We rent our home and live in the countryside. Rats moved into the foundations (normal for living in the countryside) and our landlord was out pretty quickly to have someone put posion down - but no traps. So the rats died under the house, there was an AWFUL smell and recently we had a severe fly infestation! and I mean thousands apon thousands, over windows, walls, flying around, on the floor, climbing things...:mad:

They were coming up from the bathroom in there hundreds from a gap at the radiator, the landlord came round, hoovered them up and put expanding foam down the hole. This slowed them down from appearing, but now they are finding a way up in my livingroom.

I am disabled & pregnant, and have been feeling poorly for the past two weeks. My 8 month old daughter has also been off, but its mainly me whos been unwell. With sickness and diarrhea (spelling!) for days and now chest problems.

Everytime i call my ladlord he just comes and hoovers them up, but theres little marks all over the house which im sure is coming from the flies and they are landing on everything, including my daughters things and even us!!

We have fly traps, uv light killers, repellents etc we have tried everything

The only way we can see this being resolved is to lift the floors and remove the dead rats. I hate using the toilet, because of the infestation and the fact they fly in your face and land on you too. Im also paranoid about them eating of the dead rats and then landing on things.

Could the flies be causing my sickness?
What are our rights if this is making me ill?
Can I make him remove the dead rats?

Hope you can help, this is really getting on my witts with being ill and not even able to sleep without things buzzing round our heads

thanks

keith969

Call Environmental Health at your local council, this is a serious health issue.

Janec2

OMG !! You poor thing.
I HATE flies - that would be my worst nightmare. The dead rats MUST be removed. I agree call environmental health straight away. Let us know what happens.

googler

Agree, call Environmental Health without delay.

Make an appointment with your GP for a checkup, too?

MissMotivation

I can only echo what others have said. You MUST call Environmental Health asap!

Your Landlord sounds like an idiot! Even I know that if you put rat poison down all that will happen is that you will have dead and rotting rats left.

This isn't going to go away by itself.

Minxy_Bella

OMG! It sounds like something out of the Amityville Horror!! You poor thing - I'm sure the abundance of flies will be affecting the health of your family!!

I'm sure the LL is trying to help but he's obviously unwilling to put his hand in his pockets to sort out this nightmare - I do think he's going to have to though.
Have you got somewhere you can go while the floors are lifted? A pregnant woman and a young baby really shouldn't be around when the dead rats are being removed IMO!

Please let us know what EH say.

xxx

N79

ShaShaSha wrote: »

Could the flies be causing my sickness?
What are our rights if this is making me ill?
Can I make him remove the dead rats?

My word - what a pratt and crook for a LL you have.

To answer your questions.

1. Sorry - outside my field of expertise.
2. Your LL needs to remove the fly infestation. This will be achieved by removing the dead rats. I have no idea how quickly the council will move on this.
3. See 2.

As others have said it could be worthwhile involving the council. They can issue a notice requiring the LL to fix the problem.

Your remedy to fix this is as follows, assuming it is as bad as you imply and you believe that this is a health issue. You must report this problem in writing to your LL as soon as possible. Send the letter recorded delivery and give the LL a short period of time to fix the problem (a few days - a week at most). After this if your LL has still not fixed the problem call three pest control companies and ask them to give you a quotation for removing the rats and killing the flies. Send all three quotations to your LL recorded delivery and give him 1 week to arrange for the work. If he still has done nothing then get the cheapest contractor to undertake the work, pay them yourself and then send a letter recorded delivery to the LL stating that you will be deducting the cost from the next months rent.

In the meantime is there anywhere else you can stay for a few days?

Finally, I would suggest that you look to move to a new house with a better LL at the earliest opportunity.

googler

Can you check into a local hotel while the pest controllers do their job?

clutton_2

have you discussed with your landlord that removing the dead rats has to be the solution ? do you need a friend with you to help you have this conversation with the LL ?

ShaShaSha

Thanks everyone, have been so helpful!

I contacted him again, and hes coming round today. Have decided to be a bit more blunt when he comes round, he is a fantastic landlord - better than any we have had. But I dont think ive been blunt enough about just how much it is affecting us and I think as soon as I say just how unwell I am hes likely to get the job done sharpish - or if I mention enviromental health

He owns 2000 acres of land, with 40 properties, some are vacant - like the house next to ours. So I think were going to ask to be moved next door until its done with.

The house was empty for a year before we moved in, and there was a leaking tap & gutter causing problems so now the walls are damp under the tiles and there are little bugs all over the tiles. The bathroom needs ripped out, damp sorted and retiled & new flooring

If he doesnt agree, im going to ask to be transferred to one of the smaller but newer properties for good, or go down the getting the repairs done and paying for it ourselves route....

thanks so much everyone, very very helpful

Hes a stubborn old man and just needs pushed to spend the cash his accountants dont like to see!!

Janec2

Sounds like moving to one of his other properties would be a great idea.
Good luck with everything.