Flea Infestation in Rented Flat

Ridoki

My daughter has a flea infestation in her rented flat that started about 2 weeks ago. It is an unfurnished top floor flat and she has been there for just over a year.She does not have, nor has had, any pets but the tenant in the flat below has two dogs, and the common stairways are carpeted. The tenant below has a different landlord to my daughter we believe.

My daughter's landlord has sprayed the stairways but this has obviously got into my daughter's flat, so in the bed, sofa, and other soft furnishings (bedroom is the only room with carpet) and the infestation within the flat is rapidly getting worse. Today within 30 minutes of arriving back at flat having been away for a few days she has found numerous fleas on her feet, legs, and arms, on the bed, etc.

First question is about responsibility. Is my daughter's landlord responsible for getting the flat cleared? Also can my daughter claim for cleaning or replacement of the mattress and sofa from her landlord?

Her tenancy actually comes to an end in 3 weeks and she is due to then move to another flat so could she claim compensation from her landlord for having to get out and stay somewhere else in the meantime?

powerful_Rogue

Would imagine it would be difficult to prove how the fleas got into the flat. If she has lived there a year and the flea infestation has only happened, then clearly it was flea free when she started the tenancy.

What does her tenancy agreement say in regards to pests?

I 99.9% believe she won't be entitled to a replacement sofa/mattress etc. If you believe and have proof it came from the people below with dogs, she will have to claims against them.

km1500

The responsibility is your daughter's as the tenant. In fact, she had better get the flat treated or she might find the landlord charges her to get it to a point where they can re-let it.

Fleas or flea eggs are usually bought in by animals or people or even clothing etc. It is worth reading up on them and how to treat for them (I recommend Indorex spray from Amazon)

sheramber

Flea eggs can lurk in dark places - in crevices, along skirting boards , under cushions, down the sides of chairs/sofas. etc= for up to  nine months before hatching out.

If they are in the bedroom, the chances are they are in her clothes, as well as bedding.  

A friend had problems until she hoovered her curtains as they had infested them.

You need to hoover, hoover, hoover absolutely everything and everywhere.

Sprays, such as Indorex, are effective for nine months to a year so affect any eggs hatching out.

tacpot12

Indorex is the stuff to get. I would recommend getting a couple of cans, although expensive, two cans should allow the entire flat to be treated liberally. 

 Anything that can be stripped and washed at 60 C should be washed, it won't necessarily kill or get rid of all the fleas, but it will help a lot. 

Spraying carpets, especially along the edges, and the crevices on soft funishing that can't be stripped to be washed is necessary. Getting and using a good dust mask (P3/FFP3 rated) while spraying the Indorex would be a good idea as she will need to empty the two cans into the flat and should repeat spraying areas if she has anything left. She can use throws to cover soft furnishings after she has sprayed them so that she can still sit down.