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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my landlady should compensate me - Clothes moths

76 replies

Riesling · 19/01/2019 22:46

Hi. I am seeking some advice on this.

I have been renting a room for one year and about 2 months ago I found my favourite Ralph Lauren dress has lots of holes. Straight away I checked the wardrobe and found out cloth moth larvae and my precious wool coat and another Ralph Lauren jacket were completely destroyed by clothes moths.

I talked about this to my landlady and she said " oh I am so sorry but the thing is there are lots of moths in London and my friends are going through the same!"

And then she bought me some moth killers and sticky stuff to catch moths but they are still flying around in my room.
I vacuumed the room day and night and put some clothes into the tumble dryer but no luck

When she was away over Xmas holiday I sent an email saying that how much I was distressed and my clothes were the gift from my family member etc. She said " Ok, I will discuss with you later" but instead off of sudden, she asked me to leave within a month as her cousin is coming to stay.

The thing is I had already paid the rent in full this month and she gave me a notice. Now I am feeling she is really sly(I dont believe her cousin is coming) and it is unfair. She should compensate my clothes damaged?

What is best way to deal with to deal with this? Can I get any help from the council etc?

FYI I have an en-suite room but she let another lodger use my bathroom without my agreement. We did not have a written contract and I should move out next Sunday.

Any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:
silvercuckoo · 20/01/2019 16:51

Report her anonymously to HMRC (do you know if she is paying tax on the rent you pay)?
OP is a lodger. Unless it is a very posh room, there are likely to be no tax obligations under the rent-a-room allowance.

NorthernRunner · 20/01/2019 16:56

YABVU

there has been a huge increase in moths in London over the past couple of years. There are lots of things you can do but it isn’t your landlady’s responsibility, it’s yours, it’s part of growing up and living alone 🤦🏻‍♀️

sunshinesupermum · 20/01/2019 16:59

The kitchen moths are different from the clothes eating ones and yes we threw away all open packets of stuff when we had them.

You will need to examine all your clothes (moths like all natural fabrics) and throw those which have holes in them, sorry. Put the rest in the freezer to freeze the egg larvae off and look for a new home for yourself.

Original poster
Riesling · 20/01/2019 20:51

@Ultramic You must be joking. My landlady has admitted that there were already clothes moths even before I moved in. That is the reason she apologised to me.

I had lived in a clean and new place before and never seen these disgusting moths.

Now you are talking
"Being a good tenant isn't just about paying the rent" I don't know what kind of fairness you are talking about?

OP posts:
WetWipesGoInTheBin · 20/01/2019 20:54

@mothertruck3r she doesn't necessarily need to pay any tax - www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme

adriano007 · 20/01/2019 20:58

YABU - get a contract next time. I would recommend you google content insurance - which is basic standard if you are flat sharing especially if you have expensive items - Ralph Lauren sounds expensive to me.

Original poster
Riesling · 20/01/2019 20:59

@MereDintofPandiculation There are different types of moths living in this house.

I found all kinds of nuts and flour etc were eaten by moths in the kitchen. When I cooked some soup I found larvae in there while eating. It was really disgusting

OP posts:
MorningsEleven · 20/01/2019 21:01

Grow up and get some mothballs.

Ultramic · 20/01/2019 21:04

It's not your landlady's liability. Learn from it and move on.

And yes, being a good tenant is about more than money - it involves taking responsibility and ensuring good communication, amongst other things.

As you said, she first provided a solution when you complained. She listened and took steps to help. She sounds like a good landlady.

Demanding compensation has most likely spooked her into wondering what you'll be demanding/complaining about next.

1Redacted1 · 20/01/2019 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Riesling · 20/01/2019 21:10

@MirriVan Every weekend we have random visitors and dogs for the landlady and I don't think the house is properly cleaned.

Yes. it is hard to prove that it's her fault. But my landlady admitted there were already moths even before I moved in. I have got a few pics of moths and dead moths which were found in my food etc.

OP posts:
MorningsEleven · 20/01/2019 21:15

Dogs don't carry moths.

Original poster
Riesling · 20/01/2019 21:17

@Ultramic

On Citizen Advice website it's stated as below so I thought it's her responsibility. but there is no tenancy agreement between me and the landlady, so it might not be the case

If there's disrepair in your home that's either causing a problem with pests and vermin or is making a problem worse, it's likely that your landlord is responsible for dealing with it as part of the repair work.

For example, if there are holes in the walls and floors which are allowing rodents to get in, then your landlord would be responsible. This is because there's a term implied into tenancy agreements which says that a landlord is responsible for keeping certain things in repair, including the structure and exterior of your home.

If other repair problems that the landlord is responsible for lead to an infestation, they're likely to be responsible under the tenancy agreement. However, they would only become responsible in these circumstances, when they know about the problem.

OP posts:
WendyCope · 20/01/2019 21:21

I am the lone one going against the grain here OP

The house needs to be fumigated, I had a friend once, in exactly the same situation and thousands of pounds worth of cashmere jumpers were destroyed.

It all sounds disgusting to me.

But I HATE moths.

I'd move and get a nice, fresh place. Flowers I am itching thinking about this. Poor you.

And I think you have a right to compensation and not to be thrown out for complaining.

MillicentSnitch · 20/01/2019 21:23

It's true that moths have become a big problem in London. I've lost all my best knitwear & I don't even have carpets or see more than the very occasional moth. I have to keep my jumpers in collapsible airtight bags now. Wherever you live next, it's best to be proactive.

WendyCope · 20/01/2019 21:23

You got mumsnet on a bad day unfortunately Grin

Dragongirl10 · 20/01/2019 21:23

Op you are BU, the above refers to rats and mice, not moths, it is impossible to know who is responsible for bringing moths in(they do fly)

If you have expensive clothes you should keep them safe, by having mothballs in your wardrobe as a matter of course.

She gave you a months notice so not unreasonable. If you wanted a guaranteed term you should have, signed a tenancy agreement, paid the deposit and you would have had a guarantee of tenure according to the agreement.

Your post suggest you are just trying to gain from your landlady.

MereDintofPandiculation · 20/01/2019 21:25

It sounds as if you're not storing food properly. It needs to be in containers with well fitting lids.

Having larvae in food (which are usually beetles rather than moths) isn't a structural/repair problem it's a food hygiene problem.

WendyCope · 20/01/2019 21:25

It suggests nothing of the kind! Shock

RandomMess · 20/01/2019 21:29

You need to treat all your clot professionally else you will take the moths with you!!!

It's a shame that your landlady hasn't/won't claim on her insurance Sad

WetWipesGoInTheBin · 20/01/2019 21:30

OP if you live in accomodation with your landlady you are a lodger and have very few legal rights. If you want more legal rights I suggest you rent a room in a shared house where you do not live with the landlady/landlord but be surprised if the kitchen and bathroom areas are kept clean and the rubbish is removed regularly.

Anyway the fact your landlady has given you a month's notice is very reasonable of her. I've lodged before and have been given 2 weeks notice.

NotACleverName · 20/01/2019 21:30

Try the Daily Mail for this one, OP. They love a good sad face story.

Ultramic · 20/01/2019 21:31

You're assuming a great deal about legalities you clearly know nothing about. You're misinterpreting the critera for damage and repair.

But the only thing that matters here is that: no tenancy agreement between me and the landlady

Even if you did have an AST, she would not be liable in this instance and you wouldn't get anything from pursuing compensation.

As I said, learn from it.

WetWipesGoInTheBin · 20/01/2019 21:32

@RandomMess why do you think the landlady's contents insurance would cover the OP? When I was reading through insurance policies they can specifically exclude lodgers and/or pest infestations.

mumsastudent · 20/01/2019 21:32

op it might have escaped your notice but we have had a very hot summer & this has increased the number of insects - the creatures you claim are in your food would not be the same type - how long did you have your packet food were they in paper packet - did you have separate cupboards/shelves if you Do than it is your responsibility to clean the cupboards you use. again as mentioned creatures with wings can get through open windows & with the hot summers … if it is an old Victorian house … we are not talking cockroaches or fleas or wasps here - so environmental health wouldn't be interested in prosecuting (if you have free access to them in your council many area don't even for rats you have to pay)