privated rented accom DIY due to mouse

sc0ttie

I moved into a private rented flat 5 weeks ago, upon moving in i noticed one of the kitchen cupboards had cardboard taped over the backing inside of it, clearly to cover a gap or hole in the hardboard back of the cupboard. I thought perhaps it looked like it had been done to stop pests.
Anyway, 4 weeks into the tenancy and I spotted my first mouse in the kitchen and found my loaf of bread on the worktop had chunks missing from it.
I reported it to my letting agent and he said the LL does not get involved with pest problems and could refer me a good pest control company if i needed it. Having just left my ex and set up house on my own, with a low wage, I have a £900 debt to pay off right now and could not afford a pest control company's fees. So last weekend I bought some poison and yesterday bought a couple of traps. So far the traps have not caught anything but the poison was being taken every night (except tonight, none was taken this morning).
When I spotted the mice they ran behind the kitchen cupboard (the one which had the cardboard taped up inside it) which has a big gap where whoever fitted it cut the holes too big to fit around the pipe for the gas oven. The hole is big enough to push 4 fingers through it, so if i fill it in it would need quite a bit of material to fill it. What would be the best kind of material to use to fill it? Also, if i fill it could the landlord say i have ruined the units and withold my deposit when I chose to leave?
There is also a hole behind a pipe which goes down into the floor in the living room, where the pipe for the radiator comes in. If I fil that hole, the material would need to have some heat resistance due to the hot water which flows through that pipe. Any ideas please?
Thanks

stebiz

I don't agree that he isn't responsible. It has obviously been an issue when you moved in. A recorded letter asking him to resolve the problem is in order.

https://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn06041.pdf

scottishblondie

I'd also go back to the LL. Send a letter to him so the request is recorded in writing.

Also, make sure you put all food away in sealed containers, and make sure you wash any dirty dishes every day. The problem of the mice getting access is clearly pre-existing, but leaving any food out can attract them in and make the problem worse.

warmhands.coldheart

I would say fill the hole with some expanding foam. couple of quid from the DIY sheds, some people recon mice will chew through it but I've never seen it, rats would be a different matter.

On catching the little blighters..... I know a lot of people hate them and think they are cruel but Mouse Glue Traps/Boards worked for me the best BY FAR....... They cottoned onto the traps within a day and stayed away. these little beauties though with a small piece of chocolate in the middle caught 3 in an hour..... So Fill hole, set glue traps, no more mice by end of the week !!

sc0ttie

Thanks for your replies.
The response from the letting agent was a reply to my email so it is already in writing. I have moved all my food, cutlery, utensils out of the kitchen cupboards into a separate plastic drawer storage system. And bread has been put away, washing up done everyday. If I fill these holes in myself with expanding foam, will that be classes as a modification which must either be removed when I vacate the premises or money taken from my deposit?
I have now told my letting agent that I intend to contact environmental health so see if they can determine if the mice are coming in through a structural defect or due to poor property maintenance. I emailed that to him this lunch time so I will see what the agent says to that. I have been putting poison down for a week but the thought occurs that they may die in a place that I cannot find them and thus a stench will ensue for some time!!

stebiz

If the Landlord is pedantic and you don't do it right he could well say that you had no right in disturbing his decor and withold some of your deposit. He could also say that you have damaged units.

Really to cover yourself you need a few pics and to add remedial measures that can be removed without damage when you are leaving.

Like I said previously this is your Landlords problem. Don't make it yours.

ic

Check your council website - my local council will attend to deal rats and mice for free in domestic properties. Much easier route than trying to build a case against your landlord via environmental health.

sc0ttie

Just an update on this. I went back to my letting agent with an email and stated that I would be contacting the local council environmental health department in order to arrange a hazard assessment of the flat, to find out where this mouse (or mice) are getting in. I included the pdf which Stebiz linked to above.
Within 30 minutes my letting agent were on the phone to me stating that he spoke to the landlord and they are prepared to send in their own guy who will apparently seal up the holes in the flat where the mice have been seen. He stated the he spoke to the landlord about it the week before last, which is bull*** because I had not even reported it at that point. This was on friday afternoon, but the guy has yet to contact me to arrange a visit. I will give them until wednesday then chase it up if I have not heard. Incidentally I caught one mouse today in my trap, no poison had been taken for 3 nights and then last night one took peanut butter out of the moustrap. Thanks to all who replied.

sc0ttie

My local council charge for pest control. Must be quite lucrative for them as I have heard Medway area is riddled with mice and rats!