Tenancy questions

[kirinm]

We've just rented a house for 6 months (sold our place but haven't found anywhere to buy).

We've established that only a very small window downstairs works, others don't open and others upstairs don't lock.

We've also found what could possibly be mice droppings - not 100% sure on that and I guess we will only find out when we've slept there which will be Thursday.

What is and isn't legal here? And what are our options? We are in London and are paying close to £3k a month so didn't expect this place to be so crap.

My understanding is that this house has been let as an air BnB.

Windows - let the landlord know
Mice droppings - odd mouse get some traps. Infestation - ask landlord to fix before you move in. I am in London and mice are regular - not much the landlord can do if it is the odd mouse.

The landlord ought to have done that before letting it, surely?

It also smells which I thought was just a musty smell from being empty but we can't open the windows to get rid of it and I'm concerned the smell is actually mice.

I've lived in London for 12 years and never had mice other than the odd one bought in by my cat.

Contact the owner and ask them to deal with the windows and mice immediately. Both are a health and safety issue. You can expect to have to put down the occasional mousetrap once you have moved in but it should be free of vermin at the time you move in.