AIBU to expect landlord to replace kitchen?

[MiceProblems]

We got the keys to a rented property on the 11th July, and haven't yet been able to move in, the main reason (among several) is we've discovered a mouse infestation in the kitchen.

The inside of the kitchen cabinets and drawers are saturated with mice droppings and urine, so much so that the laminated cover is peeling up from the corners from clearly being repeatedly peed on. There was also a nest in the far corner of a cupboard where a bag of old rice had been left over, with thousands of mice droppings and chewed up plastic and paper surrounding it.

The EA's maintenance team has been out to put down rat poison (they put it outside the property, just sprinkled it around the perimeter? I did knock on the neighbours who I'm aware have cats to let them know this!). They've said they'll be back this Thursday to assess and they'll be replacing a brick vent which is the suspected entry point. All fine, I suppose, it is what it is.

Here's the problem, I now really don't want to use the cupboards/drawers to store my plates and cutlery and whatnot. If it was one or two mice and their urine hadn't soaked into the chipwood beneath, then fine, I'd give it a good bleach and get on with it. But knowing there have been a whole family of mice living there at some point, and the soft wood beneath the laminated part has pee soaked into it?! I want it replaced!
I don't know how long the mice have been there, as I discovered some plastic bags bunched up and stuffed into holes behind the sink, presumably put there by the previous occupant to keep the rodents out, and I'm aware the house had been vacant for at least 4 months before I went for it.
The landlord of the property is flatly refusing to replace anything and has said it's fine and isn't an issue in his opinion. EA have said they do agree with me, however they can't go against the LLs wishes.
He's (LL) offered a £200 reduction in our first months rent (for the unrelated fact the kitchen is covered is grease and grime) as his contribution to a professional cleaner, which IMO should have already been sorted prior to letting the property, so we're not really getting any special discount with that.

What the fuck do I do?! Is this allowed? Is there somebody I can contact? I just want to bloody move into the house that I've had the keys for for 3 weeks without the kitchen being soaked in mouse piss!

It's really hard to get rid of an infestation. We live in fields and have to deal with furry fu××ers every year no matter how much we block holes. Living with traps isn't much fun tbh

I've nothing to add except to say this must be so stressful op and I'm sorry you're going through this.

As a landlord myself, I would be mortified to rent out a property in that condition. He/She needs to eradicate the mice, pay for a professional deep clean and replace the affected areas of the cupboard carcasses and shelving. You don't need a whole new kitchen. There are lots of ways your landlord could make things sanitary and fresh, and still looking great, without spending thousands.

This is NOT acceptable.

I'm an accidental landlord. In the contract I ask my tenants to sign it says that if the place isn't habitable, rent isn't payable. I would be mortified if this was my property. I can't remember as it's not in front of me if I also have to find them somewhere else to live in the meantime. Good luck with getting it sorted. Remember to see if they have followed all of the other must dos for a landlord.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018/guide-for-tenants-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018

Did your landlord give you this document? Or the agent? If not, or they don't follow all the rules, especially around gas/elec safety and deposit protection, you have clear rights. And it could cost them dear.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1143413/6.8242_DLUHC_How_to_rent_March_2023.pdf

The LL should get a professional vermin elimination company round to investigate & lay down traps

Also a landlord and I would be fixing the issue ASAP and not charging rent or at least a very marginal rent.

Although in future you should also do your due diligence and look at the property all over, cupboards and all.

@buckingmad Oh yeah, I've learned my lesson with this one. It didn't even occur to me that it could be an issue, a bit mucky and in need of a clean perhaps, but nothing on this scale.

After further back and forth between the EA and I, the landlord has agreed to now pay the £235 (what I was quoted for professional cleaners that deal with rodents), and has agreed to replace the HINGES on the base units (which are extremely rusted and minging, but again, not my main issue), but nothing more. I've told the EA to let him know I'll be seeking legal advice and getting environmental health involved. The poor EA dealing with us has said she completely agrees and sympathises with me, bless her, but there's nothing she can do unless LL agrees.

The first picture I've circled where I found the nest.

Posted too soon, I've given it a quick wipe over (not yet scrubbed) and the black smears didn't come up at all.

All of the little black flecks are mice shite

The hinges are grim, to be fair

This. I couldn’t live there if I was you OP.

Oh @MiceProblems those photos are awful 😔

Please don't move in.

^This.
Youre best bet is to unwind the tenancy due to a serious mouse infestation and the house not being move in ready at the start of the tenancy, three weeks ago. You’d have a right to a refund of your deposit and your rent for this month. It’s a good thing you have not moved in because taking possession of a rental is implicit consent to the condition it is in as rentals are “as is” barring anything that makes it meet unsuitable for human occupancy and the issues as reported while major, don’t reach that threshold.

The EA sound sympathetic, they may be able to help you unwind this tenancy and get into another soon to be vacant property on their books.

I’m a landlord and would be horrified if my flat was in this condition

Seek advice and get the tenancy ended

don’t live in this house, there are massive red flags with the LL and the cupboards are grim

He knows this has been an ongoing and long term problem.

He's not even prepared to deal with the mice properly, no way will he replace anything- he knows it will just end up in the same state.

Those cupboards are awful.

Run.

That’s a very serious mouse infestation and I suspect they are well established in the building (like the weevils and slugs are in my house)
Do everything you can to not move in and get your money back.
the kitchen needs replacing. A basic kitchen can be bought for about £2k and the landlord should be replacing it.
God knows where all those mice have died and they will stink.
they’ve also been living on a lot more than a bay of rice.

Whilst I agree with all the posters saying just do not move in, unfortunately they seem to be overlooking/ be unaware of the rental crisis which those in rental properties have had to put up with for far too long and continues to get worse. I am lucky as I bought a house cheaply many years ago (nothing fancy) with a £5000 deposit. The cost of rentals now are insane, there are not enough to meet demand and deposits/fees etc have been crazy for years. As for any security when it comes to tenancy......

No way would I move in, you can't clean that up. Errrrrrrr

I’m aware of the crisis thanks, but OP is in a position to walk away with all her money now. If she moves in, she will be in a worse position.

She’s said nothing about it’s this or go homeless so in her shoes I’d unwind the tenancy and keep looking.

We're not going to move in, we've decided. Absolutely gutted as we've already spent a fair amount on having the carpets replaced upstairs before we knew just how bad the mouse issue was. I'd rather accept the loss than feed my kids from that kitchen, though.

No idea what we're going to do now, just had a look at Rightmove and Zoopla and there's nothing at all that fits our criteria. I'm signed up to receive emails from them for 3 beds in the area and another place came up just as we'd signed the tenancy on this property. That's been snapped up now. Just gutted.

What on earth? Why, why, why would you spend money on changing a rental? Are you Liz Jones?
You should not spend anything on a rental aside from the odd bit of paint on the walls. Just no.

@AlltheFs we were hoping we'd have been there fairly long term, and the carpets were absolutely awful with no underlay beforehand. We asked the LL about it and he was happy for us to go ahead. We were happy to make that investment at the time, obviously massively regret it now!