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Mice infestation for over 2 years in rental property

Started by Rob722, April 25, 2015, 04:52:35 PM

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Rob722

Hey all,

Even tho I know a fair bit about rentals I've had a big issue with mice at the property I am renting it's caused a lot of stress, time, effort and we have had a lot of our items damaged, soiled, stained, etc so needed to be thrown away, as a result of repeated attempts to resolve the matter with no success we have now given notice and are going moving out!

Any advice is most welcome on how to move forward with this in regards to claiming compensation for our damaged items.

Long story short we took on the tenancy in June 2013, from the start we kept hearing some strange sounds coming from the roof / loft but put it down to wood pigeons and birds on top of the roof and chimney (it's a bungalow so you can hear them)

A few months in we realised it more then just birds, we started to hear a lot more movement, with scratching sounds.... We took a look into the loft space and discovered traps with dead mice and lots of evidence of an infestation, it was clear it was there BEFORE we moved in!
After calling the letting agent to report this we were intently told it was our problem, we would need to sort it out, we discovered the property was full of holes in the brickwork we counted around 10 entry points for them to be getting in and out!
Agent agreed after a long battle to fill the holes and send in pest control, by this point we had ad least 3 or 4 mice in our kitchen and it was unusable we moved out for a week as we had no way of keeping it clean to cook and prepare food, in total lost around £1800 worth of items that could not be cleaned or reused including some items stored in the garage (Xmas decs etc)
Pest control said it was a massive infestaion and could take 3 to 6 months to fully get it "under control" the landlord refused to pay for more visits from the experts and claimed the pest control man was just "ripping him off"
Basically the pest control expert warned the agent and landlord that without the proper care i.e continued monitoing for a min of 12 months that it was likley for it all to retun within 6 months. He was right within 4 months they were back again, this time the landlord came round with poison and said that will work that he didn't need a pest control man!
Now just 3 months on from this they are back again that makes it the 6th time in 2 years we have had mice, basically we have had them non stop the whole time and are feed up so have given our notice.....

We have paid full rent even when the property was not habitable, and we had to move out! Have never been offered any money for all our damaged items nor have we kicked up a real stink about it other then emails to the agent, believe it or not the landlord is a nice guy he just don't seem to understand what it like to live like this, maybe he will now we are leaving!

Has anyone else experienced this?
Should we try to claim back money or just move on and be happy?


Hippogriff

Quote from: Rob722 on April 25, 2015, 04:52:35 PMShould we try to claim back money or just move on and be happy?

Obviously the latter choice is going to be better for your sanity. I would do that. Just be happy that you've moved-on. Draw a line under it. You can fight the good fight, but what compensation would you seriously expect... surely a token gesture only, best to pretend you're above it all. Leave the Landlord with the problem of re-letting the property.

Rob722

Thanks :)

Will see how it pans out the agent seems to be getting a bit personal tbh, think they are annoyed they have had to manage the issues at the property and not just sit back!

boboff

If you can, withhold the last months rent.

Then when the issue of the deposit arises contest them deducting this amount from it due to your problems.