Landlords and your rights

Signoret

I rent a property and recently had an infestation of fleas. The infestation occurred because starlings had nested in the eaves of the house and the debris from their nests contained the fleas and they entered the house through the attic.
I had to dispose of a heated mattress protector that I had just purchased for £85. The pest controller that I contracted to get rid of the fleas charged me £132 to spray the whole house.
Should my landlord recompense me for the payment to the Pest controller and also for the loss of the heated mattress protector?

Esqui

What does the tenancy agreement say about pest infestations?

Signoret

There is no mention of pests in the tenancy agreement.

bris

Did you inform the LL of the problem or just get on and deal with it?

williham

bris wrote: »

Did you inform the LL of the problem or just get on and deal with it?

This. Every house I've rented I would've contacted the landlord and they would have sorted it. One of the benefits of renting.

halibut2209

Why on earth would your landlord be responsible for your mattress protector?

soolin

Are you sure the fleas came from the birds in the loft? bird fleas are unlike other pet fleas and have a very limited life span away from the birds. If your mattress was infested to such an extent you had to dispose of it then that sounds like a different flea altogether.

Assuming you don't have pets you might still have brought them in from outside if you visited someone with pet fleas. My son and DIL viewed a house that had a terrible infestation, they only spent about 5 minutes in the house but that was enough to get their car infested and the Estate agents office . The estate agent sent out for heavy duty spray, they all sprayed themselves, the cars they used and the estate agents office but my son still managed to take a few lone fleas home with him which meant they had to do their entire flat. Those were dog fleas , the owner had abandoned the house taking the dogs with him but leaving very hungry fleas.

Back on topic , as a landlord I have in the past sent in an exterminator to get rid of a wasp nest and if a tenant contacted me about birds in the loft I would arrange to have it dealt with, I wouldn't expect to reimburse a tenant for household goods though.

Hintza

You didn't need to get rid of the mattress protector, that could have been dealt with. I'm with Soolin on this I very much doubt the fleas were from birds.

We all had red mite last year from the chickens though.......lol.

Pinkypants

Isn't this why you take out accidental household contents insurance? To cover the things inside your house?

arcon5

Does flea infestation come under 'accidental damage' for insurance purposes?