buildings maintenance and mice

jee

Hi all I found a mouse in my kitchen and freaked out ( i have a significant phobia of all rodents).

I've had rentokil out twice- but they said the problem is light (ie. maybe just one got in) and due to a large hole (too big for normal gap fillers) in the kitchen floor where the communal water pipes runs through.

I'm on the top floor so I had a word with my neighbour downstairs to ask if he had a problem and to let him know where they're coming in from.

We have a leasehold mgt company (we're all freeholders) and I told them about the problem. I've asked them to contact all neighbours and have rentokil block go through the block blocking all holes to prevent the problem again.

We have a contract with Rentokil covering 4 blocks because it's London and there have been problems in other blocks.

Am I right in thinking this should come out of the service charge we pay?

They've mentioned that owners are responsible for blocking holes and keeping maintenance within the flat but I have and this large hole is from a communal pipe.

Additionally I would think this falls into building maintenance and they have a duty to carry out work in all flats?
I'm pressing this issue as i just don't feel comfortable at home knowing they can get into the flat.

thanks for any help

macman

Every street in London has mice and rats, they're endemic in the substructure of the city. All we can do is try to keep the numbers down to a tolerable level. It's quite impossible to block up every possible entry method. Where they sense that food is available they will find (or make) a way in-rats can chew through lead pipes and electric cables.
If humans didn't leave so much waste food around, they'd be less attracted to our homes.

jee

macman wrote: »

Every street in London has mice and rats, they're endemic in the substructure of the city. All we can do is try to keep the numbers down to a tolerable level. It's quite impossible to block up every possible entry method. Where they sense that food is available they will find (or make) a way in-rats can chew through lead pipes and electric cables.
If humans didn't leave so much waste food around, they'd be less attracted to our homes.

Totally understand this but these are really big holes which have been made and left by the builder not the individual flat holder.

I know that I myself have blocked all the small ones in my flat ie. in the immersion heater cupboard and where the bath pipes come in.

Also having lived in London all my life I am only to aware of problems with foxes, rodents being attracted to food and waste and am very obsessive about keeping things in cupboards and emptying rubbish into communal bins.