Contacted by neighbours rental agency

Oliverthecat

Hello - I am a homeowner and I have been sent a letter from my neighbours rental agency informing me of vermin at my property. They have no evidence, my back garden in locked and is only accessable via an alleyway which they don't have access to so they can't prove where this vermin has come from. They have said they are going to escalate the situation if I fail to take action about this problem. The issue is I have been away for the past week and haven't put the bins out so it can't have been me.  The first letter I get from my neighbours rental agency is very threatening saying they are going to take action against me but there is zero proof that it was my bins that were left out or that the vermin have come from me. Can a neighbours rental agency threaten me like this? there are 4 houses that all back onto each other so there is zero proof the vermin have come from me.  Any advice would be very welcome.  Thanks

Mr.Generous

Sort yer rats out!! 

They could be from anywhere but look for the food source. That's the problem.

sheramber

Have you asked them what proof they have?

They don’t need to see them in your garden.

Maybe someone saw them going into or coming out of your garden. 

fatbelly

It is actually very difficult to get rid of rats and they don't occupy any one property. I don't see why a confrontational approach would be of any use.

Check if your local council can help

https://www.gov.uk/report-pest-problem

theartfullodger

I would be grateful for anyone raising likely vermin. And thank them, even if false alarm .Have a very good look round, if appropriate get a rat person round. 

Early notification may save you money!

artyboy

Maybe ask them who ratted you out?

marcia_

 Yes ask for evidence. Rats could have come from further past your house and travelled through your garden. I would ignore hardly likely they will pay for court without significant evidence 

Momogeew

Oliverthecat said:

Hello - I am a homeowner and I have been sent a letter from my neighbours rental agency informing me of vermin at my property. They have no evidence, my back garden in locked and is only accessable via an alleyway which they don't have access to so they can't prove where this vermin has come from. They have said they are going to escalate the situation if I fail to take action about this problem. The issue is I have been away for the past week and haven't put the bins out so it can't have been me.  The first letter I get from my neighbours rental agency is very threatening saying they are going to take action against me but there is zero proof that it was my bins that were left out or that the vermin have come from me. Can a neighbours rental agency threaten me like this? there are 4 houses that all back onto each other so there is zero proof the vermin have come from me.  Any advice would be very welcome.  Thanks

It could be nothing to do with your bin situation.
If your garden is overgrown it will make good hiding or nesting areas.
If you have a shed they could be in or under it, again - hiding or nesting.
Rats aren't necessarily linked to food or waste in your garden.

Momogeew

Mr.Generous said:

Sort yer rats out!! 

They could be from anywhere but look for the food source. That's the problem.

Not necessarily.
They could be present because they're living/nesting in an overgrown garden or a shed/outbuilding in that garden.

YBR

They will be attracted by a food source and need somewhere to nest. These are not necessarily yours but do what you can to make sure there is no food/nest in your garden/outbuildings/shed etc. If there are rats around you also want to protect yourself and your property.

At the same time ask why they think that it's your problem to sort - it will probably take concerted action from several residents to "resolve", not that it's possible to get rid of all vermin. Do things get dumped in the alleyway for example?

Bigphil1474

My guess - the rental agency had a tenant moaning at them, so they thought the easiest way to deal with it is to send you a letter so the tenant thought they were doing something.