mice problem, tenant or LL problem?

dboswell

I would usually say LL, but what about circumstances of extremely messy tenants that leave the bin uncovered, dont sweep the floor in weeks, dont wipe down spills, maintain stinky rooms, leave food and crumbs on work surfaces and then complain when they have mice.

madeupname1

The information I have found on this is that the answer depends on the terms of the agreement between LL and tenant. If there is nothing in the agreement you will have to reach an accommodation with them. I agreed with the tenants that I would get a professional in to block up gaps get rid of the mice etc but that they would be responsible for future infestations (if any). They agreed to that.

silvercar

Depends which came first the tenant or the mice.

dboswell

silvercar wrote: »

Depends which came first the tenant or the mice.

good question!

tenants came first in february 2008. they reported seeing a mouse in may 2008. I deal with it and then nothing until yesterday.

i also gave them electro pest repellers.

should i lay traps and poison and provide new repellers and see?

BitterAndTwisted

Do those electro-repellers actually work? I would have thought that the first tactic necessary would to be to prevent the blighters getting in. It's my understanding that any gap which you can push a pencil into is big enough for a mouse to pass through, and that's pretty small.

tbs624

I have never understood why both LLs and Ts have to argue over this one - it should be a joint effort . LL sorts out any deficiencies in the property and T stores food properly, cleans up any food detritus and stores rubbish appropriately whilst awaiting collection .

Neither LL nor T should want mice piddle all over the property and the potential for property damage/tenant illness

Plug in rodent repellers and call in local pest control officer if necessary. The costs of pest control are tax deductible for the LL.

robin_banks

Agreed it can only be a joint effort.

dboswell

just got them the repellers and traps and will plug gaps. they will make more of an effort to tidy.

also suggested a cat.

tbs624

dboswell wrote: »

just got them the repellers and traps and will plug gaps. they will make more of an effort to tidy.

also suggested a cat.

.. so you exchange mice piddle for cat piddle, plus fleas, furballs and clawed carpets/door frames/furniture.........think I'd rather have the mice

BitterAndTwisted

Only let them have a cat if they can train it to do the necessary tidying up as well.

mlz1413

If they are messy tenants then adding a cat is asking for damage and fleas.

Do the tenants have a compost heap outside? Or leave out bin bags with food waste? This is normally the first step, it invites the mice to the garden and then they don't take long to find the inside of the house.

Get tenants to tidy up and make sure all gaps filled last time are still filled, that no new gaps have appeared.

I'd put something in writing to advise of agreement reached if it was done verbally.