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Original poster

Fleas in rented cottage - wwyd??

104 replies

piedbeauty · 25/12/2022 22:04

We have rented a gorgeous cottage in the Yorkshire Dales for Christmas. Cost £1900.

Dd woke the first day with bites on her back and arm - clusters of three. More the next day. Nothing visible in bed.

Changed beds. More bites. Then today we were all scratching, so dd went to have a shower, and found five fleas on her... and we found some live ones. Small ones, not adults. Dd now has about 40 bites.

Owner is sympathetic but says nothing can be done as it's Xmas.

House is very clean. Guest with dog stayed a few weeks ago; no other guests have stayed since.

I'm minded to ask for a partial refund as we've just paid a lot to be bitten! Do you agree? If so, how much is reasonable?

OP posts:
sandwichesarelife · 25/12/2022 22:06

They have. Serious flea infestation by the sounds of it and one random dog a few weeks ago wouldn’t cause that

are you sure it’s not bed bugs?9

OneFrenchEgg · 25/12/2022 22:06

I dont think fleas would last that long without a host? Are you sure it's fleas?

dementedpixie · 25/12/2022 22:07

Are they definitely fleas? Wee jumpy buggers?
Definitely ask for money back

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dementedpixie · 25/12/2022 22:09

Flea eggs can lay dormant and then hatch when they feel vibrations signalling a host.

How long are you there for? Owner should be sorting out some sort of solution for you e.g. indorex spray

Heronatemygoldfish · 25/12/2022 22:09

Could you go on amazon and buy a can of indorex? Spray everywhere and go out for an hour or two while it works...

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 25/12/2022 22:10

OneFrenchEgg · 25/12/2022 22:06

I dont think fleas would last that long without a host? Are you sure it's fleas?

Dog leaves fleas which lay eggs which take a few weeks to hatch?

Barleysugar86 · 25/12/2022 22:10

Fleas can persist a surprisingly long time without a host. Our housemate had a dog (only pet in the house) and it was six months after they left before the fleas stopped/ died off. They'd come in waves as I think some eggs can lay dormant until disturbed. We hadn't even noticed any until after the dog moved out.

janeeyreair · 25/12/2022 22:10

I would ask for a full refund, you will end up taking them home with you. They can still take a few weeks to die off with no pets.

Bekindbekind · 25/12/2022 22:11

Could you possibly share a photo of the bites and the bugs? I did that here years ago with bites and MNetters were able to ID them for me. (Bedbugs in that case. We were able to take precautions to make sure we didn’t bring them home.)

I’m not suggesting you don’t know what a flea looks like! I’m just surprised because they usually only bite people by mistake I believe, they don’t like the way we taste.

LeilaRose777 · 25/12/2022 22:11

Fleas can last months without a host, as DH and I found out when we moved into our last house. It had been empty for months, within a few days DH was like something from a horror movie, they didn't seem to like me that much!

I would ask for a fairly hefty discount. Do photograph the flea bites too, just in case. This is not acceptable. And I would be surprised if a short visit from one dog could do this. I'm inclined to think that this has been ongoing and neglected.

MintChocCornetto · 25/12/2022 22:11

Are you sure it's fleas?

When we moved into our house there were fleas (previous owners had cats) and they'd left the heating on so they all came out. We only got bitten round ankles and feet, nowhere else. Obviously they wouldn't have been in our furniture, only in the floors but I'd be worried it was bed bugs in your case.

Barleysugar86 · 25/12/2022 22:12

If they are fleas the bites will likely me more around your feet/ legs... bed bugs are more likely to get your torso.

OneFrenchEgg · 25/12/2022 22:12

Dog leaves fleas which lay eggs which take a few weeks to hatch?

Oh I don't know, was always under impression they wouldn't last long

underneaththeash · 25/12/2022 22:12

Can you leave? I would and say that it’s not habitable and get a full refund - you may need to go to small claims.

TerraNostra · 25/12/2022 22:14

dementedpixie · 25/12/2022 22:09

Flea eggs can lay dormant and then hatch when they feel vibrations signalling a host.

How long are you there for? Owner should be sorting out some sort of solution for you e.g. indorex spray

OMFG that is like something out of a horror film!

I’m not sure that “sympathetic but nothing can be done as it’s Xmas” really cuts it. Perhaps nothing could have been done on Xmas day but I’d expect the owner to be up at the crack of dawn on Boxing Day seeking out shops that sell flea killer and coming personally to the property to administer it.

Scottishskifun · 25/12/2022 22:14

Owner should be offering at least a partial refund.
In the meantime vacuum everywhere, sofas, mattresses etc and every day. If a washing machine put linen on a hotwash.

Get on amazon and buy a spray get it delivered if the owner is refusing to do anything it will say delivery day! The least they should be doing is providing fresh bedding not from the property

Oher · 25/12/2022 22:15

janeeyreair · 25/12/2022 22:10

I would ask for a full refund, you will end up taking them home with you. They can still take a few weeks to die off with no pets.

This

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 25/12/2022 22:16

I’m not very impressed with the owner tbh - if I was taking someone’s money for renting a place over Christmas and my guests’ Christmas was being spoiled by a problem with the property I would be doing my best to sort something out even if it means phoning round all my friends with dogs to see if anyone had an old can of flea spray I could have until the shops opened.

Meanwhile, hoover hoover hoover.

Unless as other posters say it might be bed bugs in which case you have a bigger problem.

mincepiepie · 25/12/2022 22:16

I'd be livid! Yes they need to refund a hefty amount.

Need to take pictures to get evidence of each person.

Shocked that they did t try to resolve this with you at the time. Yes it's Christmas but should organise first day after. Also compensate you for harm and suffering and a ruined (if it's was ruined?) holiday.

Stayed at a relatives and their cats had feels and we were all bitten to shreds. Spent so much on nucan top!

Stayed at a farmhouse and someone got bedbug bugs that were horrendous and horrifying and he was hospitalised when we got back.

LuluBlakey1 · 25/12/2022 22:18

It's true that flea eggs can lay dormant for months. Then the vibrations of someone walking on the floor stimulates them into hatching.

Original poster
piedbeauty · 25/12/2022 22:19

Fleas can live months without a host. Then when a new host turns up they feel the vibrations and sense the carbon dioxide given off by them, and wake up and start feeding! Pics attached.

And yes, jumpy buggers. We saw them. Definitely fleas.

OP posts:
Original poster
piedbeauty · 25/12/2022 22:20

Owner lives miles away. Housekeeper is away for Xmas. We leave on 27th.

OP posts:
Quitelikeit · 25/12/2022 22:20

I’d be leaving tomorrow I’m afraid

3luckystars · 25/12/2022 22:22

Is there any way to be sure you won’t bring them home ? I hope someone who knows about these things comes along to advise you about this.

I would leave and expect a full refund.

mathanxiety · 25/12/2022 22:24

You need to take photos of your bites and keep a few of the bugs for identification.

You need to demand your entire payment back. Did you pay with a credit card? You can threaten the county or city health / licensesing officer on the owner of the cottage.

You need to leave asap and boil wash hot dry every single item of clothing, gloves, hats, scarves, hats, coats, etc, you brought with you, and dump your luggage. Your shoes and handbags will need to be treated for bed bugs. You might be able to find DIY bedbug spray in a hardware place.

I doubt this is fleas. Don't bring anything home into your house unless it's been boil washed and dried and/or treated.

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