Mice in property we are buying - WWYD?

[SueGeneris]

We're buying a house which clearly has mice. It's vacant and we saw droppings on both viewings - a few in a couple of the rooms, quite a few more in the under sink cupboard (where there was an open box of sugar soap powder - not sure if this was attracting them) and loads in a cupboard in the outhouse. It's an old house so I'd expect the odd mouse but obviously if there's no one there there's nothing stopping them increasing in number.

I'm not sure whether to ask the sellers to take action to get rid of the mice and provide receipts (they don't live in the same town) or to offer to pay for pest controllers to visit under the watch of the agent - I basically want to take action before completion.

What would you do?

I'd ask the owners to take action now.

Is it terraced/detached? If it was terraced I'd probably get a cat.

They will be getting in from a broken air brick or crack in the brick work so there's little point getting pest control in until that's resolved. I give mine little names and have a humane trap to catch them in to release them. I appreciate not everyone is quite so accepting of their guests though!!
It wouldn't worry me hugely but is easier sorted out in an empty home.

Cat.

Get the electrics checked too. They may have been damaged.

Awesome excuse to adopt an army of cats.

I'm with KingJoffrey (awesome username btw :D)

If you are rural then mice are a par for the course, we live on the corner of a farm and despite having 4 cats we occasionally find a mouse indoors. Outside we have rat poison down (in proper containers) but I'm resigned to the fact that we will never be completely free of them.

Planning on cats once we move in. I did wonder whether it would be possible to deal with them if there are numerous possible entry points. It's not rural but does have a big garden with a brook at the bottom.