Fleas in holiday home

[Fleasinholidayhome]

Hi. Posting for traffic. Discovered that the house we're staying in on holiday has fleas. They're definitely fleas - small, brown, long legs and jumping. I spotted them tonight and have killed 15 so far. It's our second night here. I can't sleep. I'm here on my own with two dcs. There's a number to ring the agent tomorrow but what should I say? I don't want to stay here but our flights aren't till the end of the week and I want a holiday. Aibu to get them to pay for alternative accommodation and clean and treat our stuff? Feel very down and panicking. Please help.

[MrsOverTheRoad]

YANBU! Make them provide you with an alternative!

[PhDPepper]

Yanbu that’s rank!

[Fleasinholidayhome]

Thanks for the reply. I feel very sad as this is a much looked forward to holiday and the house is beautiful. I spent today congratulating myself on having chosen so wisely and now I've had a sleepless night and am in a foreign country in a nightmare situation with my dcs.

[BigGreenOlives]

You ring & report the flea infestation. State that you are unable to stay in this accommodation (it will need to be flea bombed) and would like them to arrange alternative accommodation and meet your costs, eg taxi to new apartment, treatment for your baggage.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

Thank you. Christ this is shit. We've had a really tough year - I mean, really really tough. I just wanted us all to be happy for one frigging week. Just one week where I wasn't dealing with major life trauma. I thought I'd got it but now it's even worse.

[0ccamsRazor]

Ah that is shit for you and your family Op

I hope that the situation can be rectified and that you can have a long needed needed break.

[kuniloofdooksa]

Unfortunately it is quite likely you will take the fleas with you to your new accommodation, and then home afterwards. They will hitch a ride with anything warm-blooded.

Fortunately unless you have pets at home the duration will be limited to the length of the flea lifespan which is about 22 days - assuming they are pet fleas originally they need the blood of the species they have evolved to live on in order to breed, and human blood whilst adequate for food is insufficient for enabling reproduction.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

Thank you. Ok crying over and big girl pants on. I'm going to have a shower and a coffee and wait until a reasonable time to ring the agent. Surely they will see that we can't stay here.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

I think they're probably cat fleas. Cats are a pest in this country and always have fleas. Stupid Brits abroad think they're cute and let them in the properties and bingo - flea infestation. So hopefully if we treat our stuff and then get someone in to bomb the flat when we get home we'll be Ok. There aren't really many dogs around and the let specified no pets.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

I've left a message for the agent. Haven't told the kids. Weird thing is that I don't think we've been bitten but these bastards were definitely jumping.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

They were all on the floor apart from one that was a couple of inches off it on a bathroom cabinet.

[MrsOverTheRoad]

Could they be bed bugs?

[Fleasinholidayhome]

Do they jump? These were jumping.

[chocchocpop]

Ensure you take photographic evidence to provide to the company

[doodle01]

They will be cat fleas someone has kept a cat there. Human fleas are rare. Id get the F out

[doodle01]

I had his when we bought a house once had to strip out everything. Flea eggs will hatch ( apparently ) when they feel vibrations no cure apart from proper deep clean

[lilyboleyn]

Try to catch one and squish it with your thumb nails back to back (tricky little buggers) so you’ve got proof.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

I didn't take any pictures of them alive as I was keen to kill them. I kept some squished on bits of tissue. Could I post pics?

Agent has called back and said they are fruit flies and they'll send someone to spray. Now waiting to speak to owner.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

I said if they are fleas we will need somewhere else to stay.

[Fleasinholidayhome]

And our stuff treated.

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

Fleas can be dormant for up to 2 years i think, our cat got them when we moved house (indoor cat so must have come from the house) so if you have pets at home make sure to wash everything and treat your bags etc. Hope you get it sorted OP

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

Bullshit they are fruit flies, I'm sure you can tell thedifference!

[Fleasinholidayhome]

Spoke to someone else now - thought it was the owner but it's just someone more senior. She said she's sure it isn't fleas as they've never had anything like this in nine years with over twenty properties. Maintenance guy coming round and I will show him the corpses. She was really sharp. I can't deal with this. We had plans for today and had booked an excursion. I m crying again now.

[MrsOverTheRoad]

They will have keys. Go out and come back when you're done. If they're still there, then demand to be moved. don't wait in!

[Fleasinholidayhome]

I need to talk to this guy though. And if he agrees that it's fleas we need to get out and get them to compensate us. I can tell that will be a battle.