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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 18:06

@EmpressCixi

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.
Oh ffs could you imagine😭 that sounds like hell
OP posts:
Original poster
485bantuknots · 30/12/2021 18:07

The comments about infestation are not irrelevant. OP asked a hypothetical question in the event of an infestation

Thank you!!! @Itloggedmeoutagain someone who gets it!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 30/12/2021 18:11

@RustyBear

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.
Actually releasing one into the wild even if you have had it 5 minutes is illegal However as OP legged it as soon as she saw it I think she will get away with it
Original poster
485bantuknots · 30/12/2021 18:13

@Justmebeingme245

I kinda want to know if the OP pre-warned the gas man that there might be a crazed squirrel behind the cooker?!
😂 @Justmebeingme245 he asked me when I started smelling gas and I told him it was when I came back from my mum's and that I left because I saw a squirrel in the kitchen. He said 'a squirrel?! Are you sure?' I asked him if he'd get it if he saw it and said of course. He moved the oven and nothing was there (just a overheated plug circuit that he said is a fire hazard and to get it checked out asap🙃)

He saw the open space where he thought the squirrel may have came from then we just laughed about the squirrel being in the flat and that was it🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 30/12/2021 18:13

@485bantuknots

Is anybody going to actually answer the question on whether the Landlord can refuse to pay for pest control in future if I was to ever have an infestation?
Depends on the type of infestation. If you have a pet cat and get a flea infestation from it,I'd expect you to pay to sort it out. Wasps nests I'd pay for, if they were big enough. Id also pay to treat infestations of rodents or cockroaches but, if I thought you were contributing to the problem by poor hygiene, I'd give you notice.
Original poster
485bantuknots · 30/12/2021 18:15

@FAQs

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

@FAQs seriously this sounds like me😭 I'm the type of person to knock on my neighbours door to ask them to come in and kill or take away a spider! I literally cannot cope and I blame my mum because she has a fear of everything, even ladybirds
OP posts:
Viviennemary · 30/12/2021 18:15

Its only a squirrel. They dont usually nest in houses AFAIK.

ChristmasFluff · 30/12/2021 18:16

Can I offer some really out there advice? Open a window. The squirrel is unlikely to want to be in your flat, and will be very scared of you and your children.

Aprilx · 30/12/2021 18:17

@485bantuknots

Why are people telling me one isn't an infestation as if I said it was?😭 please read the posts properly
Because you are asking if your landlord can refuse to get in pest control, well pest control are called when there is an infestation … so there is a link here.

Legally it is the landlord’s responsibility to deal with infestations. However in your case, as you do not have an infestation, then yes of course they can refuse to call pest control.

Landof · 30/12/2021 18:21

Hang on did you seriously pack your bags and leave the house for a few days because you saw a squirrel?

CoedenNadolig · 30/12/2021 18:26

Hang on...
You abandoned your house for days because you found a squirrel in your kitchen.

Then someone else went rout to check, and they also noted it's presence and then left.

😂😂 Be charging that squirrel board soon and putting him on the tenancy agreement as a joint tenant.

Shoo the squirrel out of your house next time OP. Honestly.

I once had a bat in my house took fucking ages to get it out, cat brought it in, the furry demonic bastard brings all sorts of wildlife in to my house. He even has 3 bells attached to him!!

Chesneyhawkes1 · 30/12/2021 18:28

I've got squirrels in my loft. They are so noisy.

I see them in the garden and then they run up the roof and disappear.

I've got a humane squirrel trap but so far I've just left them to it. They do wake me up sometimes though 😂

Roselilly36 · 30/12/2021 19:00

Squirrels in a loft, will do a lot of damage, any landlord that isn’t prepared to call in pest control, can’t complain of damage caused, risks can include electrical fire, chewing through wood etc.

It is illegal to release a grey squirrel that is captured, in the UK.

FAQs · 30/12/2021 19:29

@485bantuknots I had to buy a little spider hoover tube thing because my daughter is the same Grin

PeterPomegranate · 30/12/2021 19:49

@Xmasiscancelledagain

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
I went to listen to calls in a fire & rescue service recently and one man called up (and must have asked for the fire brigade) to rant about Nigerian politics. The very patient call handler asked what the emergency was but there wasn’t one.
Looubylou · 30/12/2021 20:15

Your DD has 2 parents and neither thought to open a window or door to let the squirrel out?

Original poster
485bantuknots · 30/12/2021 20:34

@CoedenNadolig

Hang on... You abandoned your house for days because you found a squirrel in your kitchen.

Then someone else went rout to check, and they also noted it's presence and then left.

😂😂 Be charging that squirrel board soon and putting him on the tenancy agreement as a joint tenant.

Shoo the squirrel out of your house next time OP. Honestly.

I once had a bat in my house took fucking ages to get it out, cat brought it in, the furry demonic bastard brings all sorts of wildlife in to my house. He even has 3 bells attached to him!!

😂 seriously I know it's way easier to shoo it away or open a window so it eventually leaves but honestly I have a fear of these things. It's like a freak out if there's any sort of rodent or insect in my house and not outside where it should be. I'm honestly the sort of person that will pack DD and I's bag first thing in the morning if there was a wasp in the house and I couldn't get it out. So pathetic I know😭 my 13 year old sister is braver than me and definitely would have dealt with the squirrel by herself lol
OP posts:
Original poster
485bantuknots · 30/12/2021 20:35

[quote FAQs]@485bantuknots I had to buy a little spider hoover tube thing because my daughter is the same Grin[/quote]
@FAQs ooo that sounds so handy but I'm scared to google it to try and find it because I know pictures of spiders will come up🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
userxx · 30/12/2021 20:37

@Chesneyhawkes1

I've got squirrels in my loft. They are so noisy.

I see them in the garden and then they run up the roof and disappear.

I've got a humane squirrel trap but so far I've just left them to it. They do wake me up sometimes though 😂

I'd be careful, they cause damage, the little fuckers chewed through my tv aerial.

Jessie75 · 30/12/2021 20:38

I paid for our tenants house to be fumigated spray stuff for fleas, cost me 200 quid turned out the tenant was a crack addict or heroine or something and the itching from the fleas was her …. never again its now in the contract they have to deal with it

foxgoosefinch · 30/12/2021 21:04

Let’s hope it’s not this one 🤣:

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/psycho-squirrel-48-hour-rampage-22591793

PikachuAndMe · 31/12/2021 03:31

You do need to fi d out where the squirrel has gone. If a squirrel can get in and out easily then so can rats.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 31/12/2021 06:53

Pest control normally isn’t covered by the LL, it’s normally the tenant, as it’s not a LL issue, it’s an environmental issue.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 31/12/2021 20:37

@userxx yes I need to set the trap up. But then I've got to kill them 😬 although I'll let my terriers do that I guess.

I'm just worried they've got babies as I've seen 2 squirrels. So guess they are a couple 😂

I'm thinking it's a job for my weekend off work 🤦‍♀️

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