Possible flea infestation in rented house!

keystone

No I'm not arguing with your eradication solution for fleas. I'm arguing that its really not for the tenant to be expected to deal with themselves after only 3 weeks in an obviously infested (with something - we don't even know that it is fleas in truth) accommodation. Hence my reply to your post #15 in which you appeared to be suggesting that it was for the tenant to deal with themselves and thats the point you seem to have missed. If the place does need fumigating then it would only be sensible for them to move out (at the LLs cost I would suggest) whilst it is done.

Cheers

mkaibear

keystone wrote: »

No I'm not arguing with your eradication solution for fleas. I'm arguing that its really not for the tenant to be expected to deal with themselves after only 3 weeks in an obviously infested (with something - we don't even know that it is fleas in truth) accommodation. Hence my reply to your post #15 in which you appeared to be suggesting that it was for the tenant to deal with themselves and thats the point you seem to have missed. If the place does need fumigating then it would only be sensible for them to move out (at the LLs cost I would suggest) whilst it is done.

Cheers

I appreciate what you're saying but what I said was;

"By far the best treatment for fleas is the vacuum cleaner."

As in, I was offering advice on how to deal with fleas in contrast to the other people on this thread who have basically gone totally down the "nuke 'em with chemicals" route.

This is inadvisable when not necessary, especially when there's a young baby in the house.

I have not disagreed that fixing it is the Landlord's responsibility (assuming that the source of the infestation is the carpet which wasn't replaced - which, to be honest, sounds like the most likely explanation) but the Landlord would be well within their rights to call an exterminator in, bug-bomb the whole house, and then hand it back to the tenants. Total time less than a day, so no requirement for the LL to provide alternative accomodation, and totally safe according to all relevant legislation.

It then becomes the T's responsibility to decide whether or not they want to expose their 6mo kid to the chemicals.

Or, as I said, the alternative is "vacuum" - more elbow grease, less chemical exposure for the kid.

I'm not saying that the chemicals are bad for you. I'm not saying that there would be any ill effects - these chemicals are safe for use (although as previously stated I get breathing difficulties when I use them) - but why use chemicals if there's a non-chemical alternative?

silvercar

We once moved house and I cam out with an itchy rash, worse at night. The previous owners (bought so no landlord to blame, sorry Keystone) swore blind they had never kept any kind of pet or had flees etc

Turned out I was allergic to some flying insects that frequented a tree in the garden. Same rash came back every spring time.:(

paddypaws101

I agree that the landlord needs to do a bit more to help resolve this situation...even if it is just picking up the tab for cleaning soft furnishings etc. I would question whether vacuum cleaners kill fleas....Personally I would pop a cheap flea collar in the machine to stop the eggs hatching out in there! Frequent hoovering will help remove fleas over time though. There is a great product called Skoosh which really does kill ALL stages of the flea and it is insecticide free....as it is silicone based it is not suitable for wide areas of laminate or tiles, but is great for gaps between floor boards or skirting boards and can be used all over soft furnishings.

keystone

Hells teeth - there is no concrete evidence that it IS fleas apart from speculation. So it needs a proper investigation as to what the infestation truly is and that is the responsibility of the landlord.

Cheers

keystone

silvercar wrote: »

............ so no landlord to blame, sorry Keystone

Don't know why you are apologising - its not a question of blame and at no time have I suggested that the Landlord is to blame. Whomsoever is at fault its still his responsibility. Simples.

Cheers