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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Wibu to just ignore the thing living in my loft?

66 replies

DaveyJonesLocker · 05/02/2023 10:49

I know what the answer is going to be.

I live in a very long terrace of flats. So like terraced houses but upstairs and downstairs split into flats.

I can hear something tapping, running and eating (that tuttutut sound rodents make) I thought I'd just heard it die. It was going about it business, then I heard like struggling, squealed and like a hand along a radiator, then silence for like half an hour. But I can hear it running about again. Sounds like it's having a great time.

There's no ladders to the loft and I've never been up there, I have no idea what's up there and I have OCD. I really don't like the idea of poking my head up there and getting God knows what on me.

With the set up of the flats I just don't see how I can possibly do anything about it. I rent. The landlord has zero interest in doing anything, much legally required stuff being ignored. I can't afford to spend my own money on it. And I'll only be here another 6-9 months so can I just ignore it?

Just heard more squealing and the hand running along a radiator noise, what the hell is that?!

And sounds like someone drawing and knocking on wood.

Its really busy up there, I've never heard anything before. I'm actually concerned there's a person it's that noisy.

OP posts:

Frogdinner · 05/02/2023 10:54

It sounds like rats, they're really noisy. And (sorry) but there are usually more than one.

I would complain to your landlord. And in the meantime, make sure any holes coming into your flat are blocked. Don't leave any food lying around.

Your landlord should organise for a pest controller to deal with them.

joongkivincenzo · 05/02/2023 10:57

Contact your council, they used to get rid of rats for free but charge for mice.

Badbadtromance · 05/02/2023 10:58

Contact your local pest control at your council.
It's free here and I live in a very poor area

TibetanTerrah · 05/02/2023 10:58

If you're only there another 6-9mths I'd let the landlord know via email, knowing he won't do anything anyway but you've fulfilled your part of the tenancy agreement by informing him of any problems, then get the hell out of dodge ASAP.

Oysterbabe · 05/02/2023 11:00

Report to landlord then I'd just forget about it, you've done your bit.

Original poster

DaveyJonesLocker · 05/02/2023 11:06

I'm pretty sure there's more than one. I could hear one gnawing some wood while one was walking about somewhere else. They've definitely only just arrived though. I'd have heard them. I heard what sounded like a bird trying to get in the roof above my window last night. Maybe it was a squirrel? There's loads of trees here.

I lifted the loft hatch and shon my torch in and it carried on, but I can't get up to see any further than the insulation.

OP posts:

TheKeatingFive · 05/02/2023 11:10

Talk to your landlord, they need to get pest control in. The professionals will be able to access the roof space, it's part of the job.

TheKeatingFive · 05/02/2023 11:11

As it stands it might not be too bad, but if they start breeding and gnawing wires and wood and stuff it's a nightmare for you and the landlord.

legalseagull · 05/02/2023 11:16

More likely squirrels in a loft.

MingeofDeath · 05/02/2023 11:25

Call an exorcist

iwantmyownicecreamvan · 05/02/2023 11:26

I bet it's squirrels too. I had similar but as I thought they were running up and down the gutter of my house and not inside the roof, I assumed they were magpies, so I wasn't too bothered.

But then I had my roof done and the roofer asked if I had heard a lot of noise because he said there had been squirrels in the loft - they had chewed through some of the upvc fascia board etc and he could just tell. Then I remembered seeing a squirrel run up the wall. As it was running away from a cat I didn't think anything of it, but of course in retrospect, it must have been on its way home.

They couldn't get into the house though and whenever my son went in the loft he never saw them - although the cat was always very interested. We thought it was because there was a nest of sparrows on the roof. As you are only going to be there for another few months, I would do what a PP says and report to your landlord - it's his problem.

UserNameSameGame · 05/02/2023 11:28

Probably squirrels.

2bazookas · 05/02/2023 11:33

Call environmental health pest control at your local council and tell them its a large rodent infestation in residential property.

There is a fire risk if they chew electricity wires up there.

DuplicateUserName · 05/02/2023 11:38

You could probably bet your life on it being squirrels.

It's nesting season and if you don't sort it now, they will return to breed again, probably twice a year.

We had no end of problems and damage from squirrels when nextdoor had a loose roof tile, and they made their way in from their loft to ours.

Also, one year our house was covered in flies and it turned out there was a dead squirrel up there.

DuplicateUserName · 05/02/2023 11:39

From Google...

What time of year do squirrels have babies UK?

Squirrels have two breeding seasons every year; the first litters are normally born in late February and March. Squirrels have a second litter between June and July. The average litter size is 3 or 4.

Gawpygertie · 05/02/2023 11:44

Probably squirrels.
We get pine martens, loir and mice in rural France.
The most effective thing for the pine marten was deep heat on cotton wool tucked into their nest.
The smell combined with the heat scared the pine marten so much it left that very evening.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 05/02/2023 11:52

Check your local council site. Ours does free evictions for rats!

JarByTheDoor · 05/02/2023 11:57

Anyone who like me didn't know what a loir is, just looked it up and it's a dormouse apparently. Why do pests have to be so cute 😳

Wibu to just ignore the thing living in my loft?

Summerhillsquare · 05/02/2023 11:57

Yeah, I have something scratching about in mine, and am steadfastly ignoring it.

VickyEadieofThigh · 05/02/2023 12:22

We had similar noises when we had a terrace a few years ago. Council man came round, reckoned it was squirrels and gave us traps (there are rules about squirrels, by the way).

Not a squirrel was caught and the noises went on. Then, our neighbour who was undertaking significant renovation of his house, found the rats' nest...

rainbowstardrops · 05/02/2023 12:26

Could you ask a friend or neighbour to have a look up there for you?

GasPanic · 05/02/2023 12:32

Check that your contract doesn't have a clause making you obliged to report such stuff.

Yes, animals can do a lot of damage. Chew through stuff. Also, they are not in the habit of going outside to relieve themselves, so that sort of stuff accumulates.

KangarooKenny · 05/02/2023 12:33

The birds around me are starting to nest, but I’d guess it’s squirrels, who can be very destructive. Definitely tell the owner.

PriamFarrl · 05/02/2023 12:34

My folks had similar in their loft and it was bats.

BillyDeanisnotmylover · 05/02/2023 13:05

I opened this thread thinking it was going to be about a teenager 🤣

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