Mice in UCL accommodation !

[mabelsveryable]

DC moved into UCL accommodation yesterday and has been informed by another new resident that mice have been seen and mice droppings found in shared kitchen !

I'm not happy about this at all. Mice in a kitchen is a health risk.

DC sent me a picture of what look like bait boxes in corridors but much bigger than mouse sized so I'm wondering if it's actually rats. I'm fairly sure dc would know the difference between a mouse and a rat but would every first year be as clued up on rodent sizes.

Anyone had any experience of this at UCL or other Uni student accommodation elsewhere and any advice on what to do about it (other than the obvious advice to keep all food in sealed mouse/rat proof containers) ?

We saw mouse traps in the accommodation during the tours at the summer open days. It’s not ideal but they are clearly not trying to hide them and have recognised the problem. It hasn’t put DS off applying.

Having said that we live on the edge of a village in a 300 year old farmhouse and we have some (ethical) mouse traps in strategic places around our house so I guess DS is used to seeing them around.

The accommodation wouldn’t have been empty over summer. Universities tend to hire it out. I often stay in university accommodation on holiday as it’s a good price.

peanut butter or chocolate are the best things for the baits. Mice love them.

Urgh I feel your pain. Graduated from UCL 10 years ago and the accommodation was notoriously dreadful (yet astronomically expensive). In my experience you won't get far trying to get anyone to take this seriously. There should be a warden you can ask and at least find out what the situation is though.

Some of ucl accommodation was grim as hell and the cleaners for communal areas were shockingly absent. Don’t rate ucl at all.

I work in a similar place and yup, rats are endemic around the student accommodation. There's always a steady supply of fried chicken bones, half-eaten kebabs and cold chips that never quite make it to a bin. The pest control contractors do their best to keep them out of the buildings but it's an uphill battle. To attempt to do that in London which is already teeming with vermin must be positively Sisyphean.

I very much doubt the rooms have just been sitting there empty over the summer. They get rented out for backpackers, hospitality etc.

You don't say when you were there or which halls you are talking about, so your info may not be current. They do refurbish their accommodation.

However, old buildings in crowded cities will always have mice. Mouse traps are visible in many buildings, including shops and restaurants.

You are going to have to adjust your expectations. The high cost on central London accommodation is rarely reflected in its quality. If you are upset by mousetraps you’re not going to be thrilled by the options for subsequent years accommodation. Be glad if they have the cockroaches under control now.

Which halls?! My DD is at UCL!

I agree. They should report sightings of mice or droppings to maintenance and hall management. And student welfare if it’s really bad. Students often complain amongst themselves but don’t report things to the people who are responsible for fixing them. I work in a university and this happens all the time- complaints are brought up at committees after months, and it turns out nobody has reported the issue to the estates and facilities teams.

Ramsey halls - gross. Very old and dated. Disgusting. They were in last few years - less than 5.

Bloody loved Ramsay! Though it had vermin when I was there in 1980. So I don't think it's a problem that is ever going away.

I work at UCL. there are mice and mouse traps all over campus. that is just life in London.

she can report on the UCL website here to get it flagged to maintenance.
www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/mycampus