Mouse damage in rented house - whose responsibility?

merlinthehappypig

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Following the Plague and the Great Fire in 1666 people were forbidden to build houses like that in London, because they are a fire risk and a rat trap.

Rats cannot eat proper Portland cement concrete mixed at (say) 1:4. Put some broken glass in it. However in winter temperatures is takes over a week to harden into rock. (Accelerator admix might help)

.Spend a fair sum poisoning the rats (and most of the wild life in the food chain) and then block the holes?

If you can find a trap that works, let me know. I can catch the young ones with a break back traps, but the clever old rats wait to see what happens and then won't touch them.

House was built in 1668, but they had probably never heard of London out here in the sticks......

It did occur to us that the concrete mix might have been a little soft, but I did mix granite chips in with it. They breed the rats tough up in Scotland!

I have, unfortunately, had to resort to poison which seems to have worked. No visits last night anyway. I find it difficult to feel any sympathy for rats, but don't like using poison for any number of reasons, including the wildlife.

We have never had any luck with traps either and, like you, have only ever caught very young or sick rats. Whatever else they are, rats aren't stupid. I have three traps set up at night. All of them were sprung the other morning with the food gone, but no catches.

I've thought about the humane traps, the cage type where the door closes behind, but they are quite expensive if they don't work.

Thanks for your advice anyway.

John_Pierpoint

A long time before the act of union and the new town alongside Auld Reekie.
Probably thought the Great Wen got all it deserved?

"I've thought about the humane traps, the cage type where the door closes behind, but they are quite expensive if they don't work."

Borrowed one of these and wedged it open for a few nights, bateing it with peanuts.
"Hid" it under an upturned pallet.
They soon got the hang of going in through the tunnel and eating the peanuts, or at least something did.
I then set it for real and each night something let itself in, ate the nuts, and let itself out again. Perhaps it was a combined effort.
Did manage to catch a terrified robin in it though.

clairebrooklands

I am in a privately rented house, and have discovered that we have mice....... can anyone tell me whether it is down to the landlord to sort the problem out, or myself?
if anyone can help then i would be truly grateful...... thanks

poppysarah

clairebrooklands wrote: »

I am in a privately rented house, and have discovered that we have mice....... can anyone tell me whether it is down to the landlord to sort the problem out, or myself?
if anyone can help then i would be truly grateful...... thanks

Have you just moved in? Landlord if you have and if you've been there a while it'll be you.

Clean up. Lock every scrap of food away.

And in my case it was my cat bringing them in!

clairebrooklands

no we have been her for 2 years now, had a small problem last christmas, which was easily sorted with a few basic traps....... now we have a much bigger problem to sort and i feel like i'm gonna start crying!

BitterAndTwisted

OK, if you've been there that long then either the entrance points where the mice are getting in hasn't been resolved or you're leaving food out and encouraging them in. This very cold weather is attracting them in as well. Never forget that any gap or space which you can get a biro into is big enough for a mouse to pass through. I had them once getting in under a door.

Get onto your Local Authority's Pest Control Dept. right away. Not all of them make a charge for it. If they do I'd be tempted to offer your landlord to go halves on the cost.

clairebrooklands

I think i'm going to phone the council on this one, need some help. My landlord is not the most reasonable of men and there are loads of gaps in walls and behind cupboard etc....... I found the signs in the cupboard under the stairs, where i have kept a couple of bags on a hook on the wall, containing the christmas snacks and biscuits, of which i found the packet of cream crackers half eaten (i only bought them 5 days ago) This close to crimbo i really want to scream! I have 3 small children the youngest being only 2 years old so poison really is not an option, i have a couple of traps which i have been baiting with chocolate and biscuits, but have caught nothing for the last week.

BitterAndTwisted

Bait your traps with peanut-butter

N79

Failed to see thread is very old

Wings

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Bait your traps with peanut-butter

Peanuts/bird nuts but not the salted type, place by skirting boards.