To not move into this house?

[SupSlick]

So I'm early-twenties, full-time working, single mum with a 2 year old & have been back at my parents for a few months to save up a deposit to rent somewhere.

Finally found a lovely house near an outstanding rated school with a little garden for DS to play in. When we looked around the previous tenants still lived there so I didn't open any cupboards or anything.

On Friday afternoon I signed a 12-month contract with the estate agents & got the keys. Yesterday morning I went round with my parents to clean it & measure up.

As soon as we walked in we saw a rat, an actual rat just sat in the kitchen looking at us not even bothered by our presence. Then we noticed the rat droppings all over the kitchen floor, and holes at the back of nearly every kitchen cupboard where they've got into the wall cavities.

We also found mouse traps in every cupboard/wardrobe all over the house, & rat poison bloody everywhere.

Went back to the estate agents, gave them the keys back & said I wasn't moving my son into a vermin infestation & either they knew about it or they haven't checked the property (inventory) properly.

They've basically said I'm in a 12-month contract & I have to pay.

I'm absolutely devastated. I know it's easily fixed but we spoke to the neighbours who said its been a problem for years & they're moving because of it.

Feel like they've seen me coming. Aibu to not move in & demand the contract is voided.

[Pico2]

Well done. I'd chase them for the other £200 too.

I wonder why they thought they'd get away with saying that there was no evidence of an infestation.

[specialsubject]

excellent news.

clearly the agent was at best misinformed, i.e someone had lied somewhere.

if they are members of any of the associations (E.g. ARLA) it is worth five mins of your time to report them.

[funkybuddah]

Glad you got out of it op

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

Well done OP. Can the reference already obtained be used if you rent through that EA again (not that you necessarily would want to...)?

[Cleo22]

I suggest you contact EA and ask them how much the reference service cost - ask for the invoice!

Say that you will pay the actual cost - not their inflated cost. If they want more they can claim it from the landlord

[Penguinandminipenguin]

That's really annoying you're still £200 down, but overall that's a great outcome! Well done for standing your ground, and I hope you find a nice home soon :)

[SecondRow]

Well done OP. It's outrageous what estate agents think they can get away with. Hope that money is back in your account soon, wouldn't be surprised if you have to keep reminding them... Good luck finding somewhere nice for you and DS soon.

[SupSlick]

Thanks everyone - just an update

Rang Shelter yesterday & they gave me some good advice, but mostly it would still be down to me to pay rent until they found someone else to occupy the property.
Rang the estate agents & they said the private company had been in & could find no evidence of any infestation - she said they'd pulled out all the kitchen white goods & there was absolutely nothing.
So I told her I'd send her an email & then call her back (email contained photos of rat poison; rat droppings; traps; holes in wall cavity etc)

I rang back & said I had been missold/ misinformed, that the purpose I entered into the contract for was now not safe, explained that If I was forced to move in due to losing nearly £8000, that I would hold them personally accountable if my son was bitten/ate rat poison or droppings/ asthma was affected & that I am contacting EH to see if they were aware of a pre-existing problem.

She called me back 5 minutes later & she agreed to surrender the contract & give me my deposit/first months rent back except £200 for referencing costs.
Property is back up on the market this morning

Thank you for all your help, I think I would've just caved in & begrudgingly moved in, but I stood my ground & won!!!!

[AspieAndNT]

www.nchh.org/What-We-Do/Health-Hazards--Prevention--and-Solutions/Rodents.aspx

[AspieAndNT]

*Rodents can trigger asthma as well. Both rats and mice
shed dead skin cells, called dander, that can trigger attacks
if someone with asthma breathes them in. Waste products
that rodents leave behind can also cause an attack. *

[AspieAndNT]

Ummmmm - another string to your bow. Google Asthma and rats. Very well documented about how they and the pesticides can cause issues.

I know this did not cause this particular attack but I am SURE you will be telling the EA and LL how you will hold them personally responsible for any future attacks whilst you are living in the house. Or they could just refund you the money ......

[specialsubject]

please don't worry about stupid yank TV. The professionals will ensure that the rat poison is cleaned up.

more important concerns!

[funkybuddah]

Does your tenancy agreement have the two month notice at any point clause ? My current and previous tenancy agreements have /had a clause where either tenant or landlord can break the agreement with two months notice . This has been through two different estate agents too. Just something worth looking at . Good luck .

[tvlover1234]

Please find out if your deposit is protected. If it is then you can use a free attribution service where an independent legally trained adjudicator decides based on evidence provided whether you get your deposit back etc

[FadedRed]

Rats can also chew electricity wiring, which can lead to risk of electrocution/fire hazard, so this will need checking.

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

I disagree about contacting the press now - you have to give the EA a chance to get this put right first, and hold that in reserve.

[Summerwood1]

Dreadful,I agree you should contact the press.

[AyeAmarok]

Name and shame the EA, OP. This is disgraceful. Which one is it?

[SupSlick]

Thanks everyone. Hopefully the EA will speak to the landlord tomorrow & see how she wants to proceed. Hoping she'll say give the money back & sort the house out but that's probably wishful thinking.
I think my main issue is that even if they sort the rat problem (oh and the silverfish problem - forgot that bit) and have it professionally cleaned, I watched some forensic show from like the 90's where a family were poisoned with rat poison & I'm just worried my DS will get hold of some from somewhere in the house.
I'm so worried I'm going to have to fork out for the next twelve months but going to call Shelter first thing tomorrow.

Ds has been in hospital all day with an asthma attack so I'm feeling extra emotional I think.
Bloody mess!

[specialsubject]

OP said the landlord is abroad, so may not know what is going on. No excuse though.

your bile should also be directed at the agents who DEFINITELY knew the state of the place. And also no excuse.

[RosePetels]

Btw op rats/nice hate peppermint oil. I had a mouse issue when I first moved in but I couldn't be bothered to wait for pest control so along with my cat who helped me get rid I put drops of peppermint oil in all exposed holes on some cotton wool and sealed up with wire wool.
Haven't had an issue since.

[RosePetels]

Another slimy landlord with an unsuitable property. He/she knew the rat problem but rather than sort it hoped you would since you have to live there. You should get EH involved and not pay them, they cannot lie about these things.

Lol @ the rat sitting in the kitchen not bothered by you, must of knew you were his new room mates

[brimfullofasha]

Haven't had a chance to read all your replies but our council has a 'private rented standards' team who can serve enforcement notices on landlords (and ultimately carry out work and then bill landlords). I'm sure Shelter could put you in touch.

[LazyLouLou]

s.79 - Statutory Nuisance?

Does that include rats? I didn't think so...