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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:
Original poster
piedbeauty · 29/12/2022 10:58

zebrapig · 29/12/2022 10:37

Hope you manage to get a partial refund. If you've booked through a holiday company you may find you'll only get a refund if the owner agrees as technically the contract is with the owner and the agent is just the facilitator.
We fell foul of this in half term, the owner didn't give two hoots that we'd found mouse poo in the bed (amongst other things) and wouldn't refund us anything. To say I was pissed off was an understatement!

That's horrific!!

I have left a comment in the visitors book and will leave a review too. That might focus the owner's mind. I just don't want others to have the same experience as we did.

OP posts:
Isthisabitweird · 29/12/2022 11:27

I know it’s all too late now but for anyone else leaving warm water in a bowl on the floor, I had fleas years ago and the council helped get rid of them.

I was advised if in any doubt about if you have them - a bowl of warm water attracts them and they will jump into it.

I tried it and I had six jump into it.

Lorrymum · 29/12/2022 11:45

My friend had the same thing while staying in a holiday apartment. She combined and was offered a small refund which she rejected. She threatened to take the owner to the small claims court and was offered a full refund.
If you paid by credit card you could approach your CC company. Also check your home insurance, sometimes free legal advice is included.

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Myotherusernameisonholiday · 29/12/2022 13:26

Just to say op @ISawFreeShips is right, fleas need animal blood to reproduce. If you have bought any home they'll die soon without laying eggs.
We moved into a house where there had been a massive flea problem. We don't have pets so (after biting us relentlessly) they all died off.
What was weird is that they gradually stopped hatching after a few weeks then randomly a full year later the last few hatched, bit us and died. I read the eggs can lay dormant for a long time so it may not have been the previous dog guest.

I hope your DD is feeling better

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