Ants and council properties

macman

Go back to the council and ask them to rehouse the ants.

27col

The OP seems to have gone silent. Perhaps they're up the Council asking for someone to wipe their a***..

phoenix_w

27col wrote: »

Perhaps they're up the Council asking for someone to wipe their a***..

a*** = ants?

27col

phoenix_w wrote: »

a*** = ants?

Possibly ants, possibly not.

senileturtle

27col wrote: »

The OP seems to have gone silent. Perhaps they're up the Council asking for someone to wipe their a***..

Nice. Didn't realise I was responsible for whoever put the door in!

As it is, I've been buying various products to repel the ants and sweeping up stragglers and placing them outside.

If the council had put in a proper door with sealed surroundings, I would not have this problem in the first place.

Now, please continue your baiting.

Errata

macman wrote: »

Just makes me so grateful I don't have to work in a council housing office, if these are the sort of requests that are made. No sure that I've ever seen a door spec that is warranted to be 'ant-proof'.

Don't kid yourself, council housing staff look forward to bonkers requests from tenants, they give them a good laugh and lighten their working day.

molerat

If you don't like ant powder try this, works for me http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=22725&ar=11 (don't use it too near the front door though)

senileturtle

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

BoP now interrupts for the hard of reading.

OP, a lovvie of fury animals, lives in no paradise and is infested by ants. Not akin to slaying them, or other deterrent, wants council to come round and fit new doors to their council flat. Others in parish has offered advice, such as powder, and other known methods to rid infestation. To no avail.

BoP now proffers his advice. OP, should at our expanse, get council to fit bell in W.C. Thus is so wet nurse can come round, at our expanse, and wipe their bitty when they cry.

Another bait. I wasn't aware that I was asking the world of the council. And I live in bungalow, not a flat. As it is the council put the door in, they chose to not update it. A door with proper sealing is ant proof. My parents have one and no ants get in through their doors. My door has a gap under it. Which is also at risk of flooding - I actually have a walkway by my door which is prone to flooding in heavy rains. Shall I not expect the council to fit a proper flood proof door?

Davesnave wrote: »

May I just add that ant powder is darned good at tackling carpet moth.

We looked at the expensive treatments for that, and then decided to use the ant powder. Glad we did.

P. S. Cats didn't eat it. Cats are smarter than some humans.

My cats seem smarter than most of the respondees it seems. Resorting to insults and baits is the new advice these days.

macman wrote: »

Just makes me so grateful I don't have to work in a council housing office, if these are the sort of requests that are made. No sure that I've ever seen a door spec that is warranted to be 'ant-proof'.

Plenty of doors have no gaps for any bug to get in, let alone water. Have you not seen the seals around modern doors? Or do you live under a rock?

It's not an unreasonable request to ask for a door where the ants won't bloody inhabit the crevices around it!

senileturtle

maninthestreet wrote: »

Is this a wind-up????

No.

The ants have just as much right to live as I do. I'm not going to kill something just because I find it a nuisance. Although, I might be inclined to do so if killing humans were legal

senileturtle

tanith wrote: »

So if you got a wasps/bees nest would you also expect the council to take of that? You are the householder its your responsibility

I didn't put the door in. I took care of the hole that they were coming through. They are now taking advantage of the gap under the door, which, if I put some form of filler on - the door will end up being stuck to it and be un openable. Shall I do that oh wise one?

I'm not stupid enough to allow a bee or wasp develop a freaking nest in my home. If there was one outside I would use deterrents or other human methods.

The council chose to keep a door that is not flood or bug infestation proof in. I've done more than I can to tackle the problem.

Fluff15 wrote: »

Apparently a line of chalk/talcum powder will stop them crossing, but I've not tried it myself. The talc stops the scent trail so they don't recognise the senses to your house, plus they hate walking on the powder.

Or, how about setting up a sugar source away from the door to stop them coming in and looking for that instead? No death required and you're helping the ants out

ETA: I'm not sure what recompense you'd want from the council, as ants are little blighters and unless your house is completely airtight they'd have got in anyway. At least you know where they're getting in, so can deal with them how you see fit.

I tried the chalk...they just walked right over it!

Tried lemon juice, rosemary, cinammon. So far the mixture of rosemary and cinammon seems to be doing something. I've only had the odd loner and they may well be what were left under the kitchen units after I filled their escape route in.

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

Another council lie.


they are responsible for the upkeep of fixtures and fittings this includes the front and rear doors, windows, electrical sockets fuse boxes wiring wall mounted ventillation fans, plumbing, internal doors and frames (unless replaced by yourself then you assume responsibility) internal and external rendering and out buildings supplied with the property like brick sheds for e.g, roofing.


As for the Ants, then that's your problem unless they are nesting within the cavity of the house, then its the council who has to act to get into the cavity to remove it, same with bee's, wasps, and spider infestations caused by nesting in the cavity.

I don't know where the nest is. But if they are responsible for the upkeep on doors, then they are obviously responsible on making it suitable enough to stop flooding and other such things.