Whose responsiblity is it to deal with mice found at the property?
Landlord or tenant?
My tenants suspect it is the scratching noises of mice. The garage and study room adjoin the main house and the noise is heard above the study room (the roofspace of which can be accessed from the garage).
Thanks in advance
I had the same problem. I don’t know where the responsibility lies legally but I took the view that it wasn’t right to have my tenant living in a property with a mice problem. I contacted the pest control department at the local council who made two visits to the property for £97 (inc VAT) and did the necessary treatment which got rid of the mice. They also suggested putting mesh guards over the air bricks. The tenant did this without asking. I reimbursed the cost of (from memory) about £35. Problem solved, little cost, and one happy tenant.
First, check the insurance. Vermin damage is often excluded. Then you know what your risk is. You can try to get tenant to handle it, but you risk a bill of thousands of pounds if they don’t do anything and it will be very difficult to pass the cost on to them. The longer you spend haggling, the worse the damage can get. I wouldn’t let a tenant do it and risk me getting hit with the bill.
The contract will tell you whose responsibility it is
Under statute it’s the landlords responsibility unless your contract designates responsibility to the tenant
I would have thought that any landlord would want to do the job themselves to protect their own property ( and while you are at it , sack the cat)
Fair enough
I’d pass on the charge
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