Help! Private Rental House Has Mice

[Deleted User]

I live in Kent (which is what I mean by just outside London), and no I can't move.., two kids with special needs and I've finally got my older son into the sort of place he's always wanted to get into. My younger son has had a few problems but is now being dealt with well at his school. Besides the problems finding a month's rent in advance/deposit and a landlord who will take a benefit recipient. They are really really really rare here as there is such a high demand for properties.., people are moving here from London. My rent is nearly 800 and that's definitely not expensive for this area. I moved 130 miles from the West Midlands because after 7 years of fighting the schooling system there to get my older son the access to education he needed, I had no where else left to go. He was 'expected' to get 2 GCSE's.., after our move his grades improved and he actually got 7 and now has the life prospects he should have had all along (now in college). But there was a cost, I gave up social housing, and had to move into private rental and all the joys that holds. I don't regret it, my sons have a chance now but the cost is there.

Yes I am sure it is irritating to have tenants who expect LL's to change a light bulb but honestly I've done my bit - I didn't expect the LL to deal with the mice, nor the bed bugs. Discovering there were mice that my research suggested might be difficult to remove was a case of 'oh god what's next with this dratted house?'

But when you are renting certain repairs are supposed to be covered by LL's. I am not a house owner.., that's the point. My part of the deal is certain repairs, to behave responsibly and to pay the rent. But there are some things the LL is supposed to do because of the rent he's paid. My LL laughs at these responsibilities and it doesn't seem that there is a thing I can do. There should be, there isn't. Such is life. But I am expected to be and will continue to be a responsible tenant because that's who I am. But I was panicking about the mice, hence the post. And I wanted to let people know that in this case, it did prove to be possible to eradicate them.

princeofpounds

Tried 'humane' trap and after catching them, drove them away and released in field. Experimented with one: tipex on its back. It walked half a mile to come back!

wow - really?

bouicca21

I was told that you have to take them at least a mile to prevent their return.

jjlandlord

bouicca21 wrote: »

I was told that you have to take them at least a mile to prevent their return.

Or just turn your wifi off.

JudithB

Hi everyone!
I've just found one last night. Unbelievable - I wasn't ready to face him / her.

Now I want to get rid of the mouse but I don't want to kill him / her.

In same case ultrasonics work? Does anyone have any experience.
I'm now so scared!

G_M wrote: »

1) electronic /sonic devices never worked for me

2) Tried 'humane' trap and after catching them, drove them away and released in field. Experimented with one: tipex on its back. It walked half a mile to come back!

3) these are by far the best traps: easy to re-set without catching your fingers. £3.95 for two.

4) peanut butter!

jjlandlord

The alternative is simple:
- make friend with the mice, and learn to live among them,
- accept that you have to kill them.

If you want to kill the one you caught cleanly and humanely you could put in a small jar and seal the jar close.
Should not take long and it is not painful to the mouse.

JudithB

I'm sure there is a solution and maybe ultrasonics are going to work!

jjlandlord wrote: »

The alternative is simple:
- make friend with the mice, and learn to live among them,
- accept that you have to kill them.

If you want to kill the one you caught cleanly and humanely you could put in a small jar and seal the jar close.
Should not take long and it is not painful to the mouse.

jjlandlord

Making the mice move on to neighbours is not really a solution...
If you do what will they do? They'll kill them.

That's life, toughen up.

JudithB

Hi everyone - this is a quick update

Ultra sounds + human trap + new rubbish bin with lid = no mouse in the house

:j

jjlandlord

But, strangely, the neighbours now have mice... Well done.