Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Landlord won't pay for pest control??

149 replies

485bantuknots · 30/12/2021 13:30

On Christmas Eve I woke up during the night because I heard an unusual sound coming from the kitchen. I went to investigate and saw a squirrel in my kitchen😳 (still no clue as to how it got in the flat). Anyway I let my Landlord's agent know who are always super helpful. Because I sent the email during the Christmas period I hadn't received a response up until now.

One of the estate agent's have emailed saying that the Landlord has refused to pay for pest control to resolve the issue. They've said that they can send pest control out if I'm willing to pay for the service but unfortunately he won't be covering the costs.

I private rent and moved into the flat in the summer. I'm also pregnant and have a 8 month old DD and I explained that I had to pack my bags and stay with my mum for a few days. I'm not sure why/if the Landlord is just being stingy but I also have no clue why he's refusing to pay for pest control, it's his bloomin house!!

Can someone tell me if this is allowed and if so, how?!

OP posts:
Original poster
485bantuknots · 30/12/2021 16:13

Why are people telling me one isn't an infestation as if I said it was?😭 please read the posts properly

OP posts:
Itloggedmeoutagain · 30/12/2021 16:16

Landlord here
Re infestation... If it's caused by a structural issue eg rotting wood with holes in then that's the landlord's issue. If it's caused by say, food being left out, eg dog food etc then that's the tenant's issue.
If you left a squirrel shut in my house for a week I would expect you to pay for any damage it caused.
Get one of those plug in things that give off the high pitch sound. They soon go

Xmasiscancelledagain · 30/12/2021 16:16

I used to work in an emergency control room and someone once phoned 999 because they had what they suspected were birds in the loft. Confused

EmpressCixi · 30/12/2021 16:17

I don’t think you are over-reacting OP. Squirrels do not normally go into kitchens. Bold squirrels can be aggressive. RSPCA just had to catch and put down a squirrel that had terrorised an entire street and had without provocation, bit 21 people. One woman was attacked just taking her bins out.

FangsForTheMemory · 30/12/2021 16:20

What floor are you on OP? If you're on the top floor, it may have got into the loft and you'll need to get that checked. The comments about infestations are relevant: an infestation is more than one animal. If you had an infestation of squirrels, you'd certainly know about it. Mice are more difficult to spot.

Itloggedmeoutagain · 30/12/2021 16:21

@FangsForTheMemory

What floor are you on OP? If you're on the top floor, it may have got into the loft and you'll need to get that checked. The comments about infestations are relevant: an infestation is more than one animal. If you had an infestation of squirrels, you'd certainly know about it. Mice are more difficult to spot.
The comments about infestation are not irrelevant. OP asked a hypothetical question in the event of an infestation
Hereward1332 · 30/12/2021 16:28

Just to wind things up a little, under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Country Act (1981), it's illegal to release a trapped grey squirrel into the wild. Legally speaking, if you've trapped one (in your kitchen) you are obliged to humanely kill it.

gorseinon · 30/12/2021 16:32

I wonder what the landlord's response would be if you withheld a month's rent, or gave notice and found somewhere else.

Check your tenancy agreement I suggest.

ClarasZoo · 30/12/2021 16:35

You obviously don’t have a cat. I have had countless mice some dead some alive, a jay, a rabbit, a mole (!) and two squirrels - one half dead and one fully dead and quite mouldy!!

Hugoslavia · 30/12/2021 16:40

Well, if a squirrel has got in, it's likely to be doing a huge amount of damage. They are extremely destructive and like to chew through electric wires. They will also nest in roof voids/between floors etc. If he doesn't wish to pay, then he may need reminding of the fire risks/electrical damage etc if the squirrel takes up residence.

sashagabadon · 30/12/2021 16:40

I would agree squirrels are tenants responsibility however if they were getting in via hole in roof for example then landlord should patch up hole ( after squirrel gone which is responsibility of the tenant)

Alayalaya · 30/12/2021 16:42

I would be thrilled to find a squirrel in my house and would probably take numerous photos for Instagram! You don’t need pest control for a squirrel. Just open the door and chase it out. I can see why the landlord thought it was an unnecessary expense.

PixieLaLa · 30/12/2021 16:46

Why do people search your name and use information on your other posts as if to have one up on you😂 I've never understood this

That PP didn’t need to search your previous posts, you told us yourself on this post that you had a child/another on the way.

Sorry but you sound incredibly hard work and like your lacking in common sense.
You find one squirrel on one occasion in the flat so you run off leaving it locked inside for days, come home and expect the bloody gas man to remove it?!

Now your going on and on about a hypothetical infestation, when all you need to do is read your tenancy agreement or ask your letting agent. It’s quite worrying to think what would happen in an actual emergency!

Itloggedmeoutagain · 30/12/2021 16:46

@Hugoslavia

Well, if a squirrel has got in, it's likely to be doing a huge amount of damage. They are extremely destructive and like to chew through electric wires. They will also nest in roof voids/between floors etc. If he doesn't wish to pay, then he may need reminding of the fire risks/electrical damage etc if the squirrel takes up residence.
If the squirrel took up residence this is not the landlord's fault if no structural issues. Tenant should have got the squirrel out. Tenant didn't so I would think tenant should pay for any damage to wires etc
FangsForTheMemory · 30/12/2021 16:48

@Itloggedmeoutagain I said 'relevant' not 'irrelevant'. Why don't you read carefully before jumping on other people?

Justmebeingme245 · 30/12/2021 16:50

“You find one squirrel on one occasion in the flat so you run off leaving it locked inside for days, come home and expect the bloody gas man to remove it?!”

This is the funniest thread I’ve read today - by far. I love it.

LynetteScavo · 30/12/2021 16:58

@485bantuknots

Why are people telling me one isn't an infestation as if I said it was?😭 please read the posts properly
Because pest control is for an infestation, not one animal. If you saw one wasp you wouldn't need pest control. If you had a wasps nest you would. One squirrel doesn't need pest control- they're not like mice or rats in in that they will live in your house and rapidly multiply.

If you have one pudge on it one squirrel open the door or window to let it out, and then figure if you need to deal with where they are living.

Justmebeingme245 · 30/12/2021 17:01

I kinda want to know if the OP pre-warned the gas man that there might be a crazed squirrel behind the cooker?!

Itloggedmeoutagain · 30/12/2021 17:02

[quote FangsForTheMemory]@Itloggedmeoutagain I said 'relevant' not 'irrelevant'. Why don't you read carefully before jumping on other people?[/quote]
That's me told.

RustyBear · 30/12/2021 17:21

If you've left it in your house for nearly a week, it may now be classed as 'captive'. In which case, it's now illegal to release it into the wild - you'll have to kill it.

Smorgasborb · 30/12/2021 17:23

@Justmebeingme245

I kinda want to know if the OP pre-warned the gas man that there might be a crazed squirrel behind the cooker?!
Hahahah I was thinking this too
londonrach · 30/12/2021 17:25

Pest control is your problem not landlords! I used to private rent.

UsernameInTheTown · 30/12/2021 17:27

Pest control is the problem of the Tennant. Grow up OP.

FAQs · 30/12/2021 17:45

This reminds me of the story in the metro of a woman who screamed so loud when she saw a spider the neighbours thinking she was in danger called the Police, who actually found the spider and removed it for her 🤣

Anyway I hope you get it sorted @485bantuknots

Whinge · 30/12/2021 17:49

OP why did you email the landlord / letting agent? What did you think they would be able to do about the squirrel?