Had enough of mice - want out! Advice needed please

richard001

I live inflat with mice and now rats, is the landlord liable to do anthing about it?

G_M

1) Are you in Eng/Wales?
2) are you in a fixed term tenancy or (monthly) periodic?
3) if FT, what are the start and end dates (exactly)?
4) if Periodic, what were the start and end dates (exactly) of the previous fixed term?
5) do you have a sole tenancy, or is it joint with other people?
8) is your deposit registered? Where?
6) have you reported the mouse problem to your landlord, in writing, by letter, at the address for the serving of notices? When?
7) did the LL respond to 3) above and how?
8) if so, did you follow up (ie furtherletters)?
9) have you contacted Environmental Health?

These questsions will help us advise when/how you can end the tenancy, and/or get the mouse problem addressed.

edit - have you spoken to other flat residents in the building? Is this problem building-wide? or just your flat?

richard001

I'm in England.

I'm not sure what tenacy type I'm in - I think its a 6 monthtenancy

Its a single tenancy.

G_M

richard001 wrote: »

I'm in England. Thanks

I'm not sure what tenacy type I'm in - I think its a 12 month rolling tenancy (August - August) with 2 months notice by eirther side.very unlikely. Please check as important. Also the EXACT dates.
If it is a 12 month FIXED contract a) you do NOT need to give notice b) you canNOT leave till it ends

However if it IS 12 month 'rolling', this usually means 'Periodic' (I doubt this) then Notice is complex. Again, EXACT dates of original or previous fixed term contract needed!

Its a single tenancy, but I also share with my flatmate (we have a contract each). so you can end your tenancy without affecting your flatmate. Is he/she planning to do the same or to stay?

My deposit is held by the LL's accountant. Illegal. You can claim 3 times the deposit in penalty from the landlord. Are you sure? How do you know the accountant has it?

I haven't reported the mouse problem to the landlord in writing by letter for the serving of notices, nor have I contacted Environmental Health, (lthough the local council have been out and put poison down, which was useless - the mice disappeared for a month then were back again). did you tell the council the mice were back?

Hope this helps.

More info needed I'm afraid!

chris_m

G_M wrote: »

b) you canNOT leave till it ends

Not quite true - you can leave any time you like but, unless you reach an agreement with the landlord for early surrender, you will still be liable for paying the rent until the end of the tenancy.

kerri_gt

I'm not quite sure why you thought it was a good idea to move into a flat when you were told there was a mouse problem, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I do sympathise, we prev shared a house with a lovely array of rodents, my particular fav was hearing the mice scratching under the bath when you were in there (downstairs bathroom) but they were almost sweet compared to the giant rat I saw in the kitchen :eek:

I would inform the council and LL that the mice are back, and getting worse. The council will advise about Enviro. Health. I'm not 100% sure legally where you stand on this with regards 'fit for habitation' of the property with the rodent issue and hopefully someone will be along to advise.

Is there anyone you can stay with to get out of the flat in the immediate like friends or family?

whalster

Poison works well try that ! I had a tenant have a rat problem once, in a brand new house too , the council enviro health came and sorted that out for free but am not sure on mice .On a different note a friend of mine had an old house with a mice problem , he bought a plug in device that somehow delivered a noise or ultrasonic , at the time I laughed but it seems the thing works and on a whole host of other things too , will find out what the thing was called.

G_M

chris_m wrote: »

Not quite true - you can leave any time you like but, unless you reach an agreement with the landlord for early surrender, you will still be liable for paying the rent until the end of the tenancy.

yeah yeah!

In my head I meant 'cannot eave the tenancy' rather than 'cannot leave the property'.

Nipping down the shops is fine during the fixed term!. So is going on holiday, whether for a week or 6 months....

richard001

kerri_gt wrote: »

I'm not quite sure why you thought it was a good idea to move into a flat when you were told there was a mouse problem, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.QUOTE]

G_M

richard001 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice If you read my post properly you'll see I said we WEREN'T informed when we moved in....if we had been I'd had run a mile!

Did you see post 4? "More info needed I'm afraid!"

If you want helpful and accurate advice you need to provide full and accurate information!

kerri_gt

richard001 wrote: »

kerri_gt wrote: »

I'm not quite sure why you thought it was a good idea to move into a flat when you were told there was a mouse problem, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.QUOTE]

Thanks for the advice If you read my post properly you'll see I said we WEREN'T informed when we moved in....if we had been I'd had run a mile!

Whoops, sorry about that - I must confess I might have had one eye on the Olympics while I was typing Personally if it were me I'd contact the LL and the Council again about the mice, and serve notice at the same time (unless you would consider staying at the property if the problem was resolved?) At least then you know that there is an end and a time to move out - do you think the LL would be aggreeable to you serving a shorter notice period? Incidentally, if you are on a periodic tenancy, then I believe tenant notice period is 1 month not 2.