Mice and rats in rented flat

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Hi

My teenage daughter and I have had to listen to rats in our attic and mice in our living space for over 5 months now! Landlords have got pest control etc and now finally they’ve got maintenance in to fill up entry points.

The noise has been unbearable; thudding, scratching, scrambling sounds in the attic and walls in all of the rooms.

I woke up the other morning was tidying my bed and there were mouse droppings all over my mattress! I impulsively threw it out along with all of my bedding because I can’t stand the thought of sleeping on anything a mouse has been on. It was only 5 months old.😢

My daughter also saw one darting around her bedroom and we left to go to my Mum’s at 1am as just couldn’t stay there any longer and we are currently sleeping on the floor and the sofa!

I can’t really complain about the landlords as they’re trying to sort it. It’s just that they don’t have any empathy whatsoever. I’ve told them my daughter and I both have chronic medical conditions and anxiety but there has been no apology, I’ve literally been crying and shaking. They are ignoring the impact it’s had on our wellbeing and I just have the feeling that I’m annoying them and they think I’m being dramatic. They’ve literally said other people have more “tolerance”. Excuse me?? Why should I “tolerate” disease spreading vermin?! Their secretary said that people “react differently” like I’m over-reacting!

I am going to ask if they will replace my mattress and deep clean the place as droppings were also in the living room and on the dining table. I mean would THEY eat in a restaurant where there were mice droppings on the table!

Any advice or just some words of comfort and validation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

You can contact your local council's environmental health department.

Can you hire your own pest control?
My local council offers the service and seems to be very reasonably priced with multiple visits included.

The landlords needs to hire someone to check and seal all entry point - Pest control are very good at identifying them - otherwise you’ll have an endless cycle of new ones coming in. Do you have any idea how they are getting in?

Personally I would move if you are able to as this sounds like a bad infestation but understand that’s not an easy option.

You do sound a bit over the top OP and it’s not helping your daughter to see you reacting like that.

I’d be over the top if mice were shitting in my bed too.

They are quite cute IMO

I asked for support not judgement. It’s clearly affecting my mental health so just be kind.

Thank you. They pose health risks as well and my daughter and I are both vulnerable.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. Hope it gets sorted out soon.

I had this. I didn’t trust the landlord so I paid around £100 for the council’s pest control man to come out. He did 3 visits, put poison down first, second checked it - still evidence, 3rd was satisfied they’d all gone. He identified the entry points - some open mortar joints at low level. Mice only need a hole as wide as a pen. So I pointed those up with cement. Don’t use expanding foam because they can chew through it. And I don’t think you’re overreacting - unless you’ve experienced it you don’t know how it would feel. If mice are getting in because of disrepair to the exterior fabric, the landlord is responsible. Good luck.