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Original poster

Lower Ground Floor Flat - Risk of Slugs?

34 replies

YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 10:42

Hi everyone,
I might have to move to a lower ground floor flat in a Victorian conversion. The flat faces the back of the house and has a patio garden.

I googled living in basements flats and to my horror saw that some people had a slug problem. I have an absolute phobia about them so there is no way I could risk it.

Is it a common problem? Where I am, there are mice and it is a constant assault, with new ones breeding all the time. So if living in a basement flat means the same with slugs, that the threat is constant, then I couldn't cope...

Thanks!

OP posts:
Plump82 · 28/02/2021 10:46

Well im not sure if lower ground floor flats have problem but i live in an upper flat and we had 2 slugs last year so i think they can get in anywhere.

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 11:16

@Plump82

Well im not sure if lower ground floor flats have problem but i live in an upper flat and we had 2 slugs last year so i think they can get in anywhere.
OMG, really? This is horrible! I don't know what I'd do if it happened. I've only recently become aware they could get into houses so I wonder if it's a new thing caused by a warmer and more humid climate...Sad
OP posts:
Plump82 · 28/02/2021 12:01

The 1st one we found dead but before we found it my husband had slug trail all over his boots. The 2nd one was making its way down my hall. A couple of days later i noticed a track all over the bedroom ceiling and wall where it had been slithering about!!!

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 12:05

@Plump82 oh no, I feel sick just reading about it! I hope you don't get any more of them...

OP posts:
fastwigglylines · 28/02/2021 12:12

I lived in a lower ground floor flat with double doors in my bedroom that opened to a patio garden and had a huge gap under them, big enough for a snail to crawl under.

In the 10 years I lived there, I never saw a slug in the house. I did get the occasional snail (about 3 over 10 years), a fair few beetles and two mice. TBH if I'd been more together I would have probably done something about the gap!

But no, no slugs.

If you're that freaked out by nature, possibly not the flat for you though, if you're not going to feel comfortable?

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 12:19

@fastwigglylines, thank you so much for this information - very encouraging. I hate snails too but would have made sure there was no sign of the smallest gap! Grin

Yes, ideally I would go for a flat on a higher floor. But there's not much choice...

OP posts:
PurBal · 28/02/2021 12:21

I'd be more worried about rising damp than slugs tbh.

Eckhart · 28/02/2021 12:25

4th floor here. Sometimes there are slugs.

If you hate them, put some brine in a spray bottle and squirt it in the area you see the slug. Not on the slug, that's mean. Slugs have feelings too.

But you can make an effective barrier with salt. They physically can't get past it.

Then you can have any flat.

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 12:28

@Eckhart how are they getting to the 4th floor? Does this only happen in old buildings?

Yes was thinking of salt just outside the door but worried about them getting in through cracks in the wall, under the sink etc. My phobia is such that seeing one sends me into flight mode. I just couldn't have them in my home.

OP posts:
Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 12:29

@PurBal

I'd be more worried about rising damp than slugs tbh.
Yes, damp is worrying me too.
OP posts:
Plump82 · 28/02/2021 12:30

@Eckhart

4th floor here. Sometimes there are slugs.

If you hate them, put some brine in a spray bottle and squirt it in the area you see the slug. Not on the slug, that's mean. Slugs have feelings too.

But you can make an effective barrier with salt. They physically can't get past it.

Then you can have any flat.

My friend also had slugs and used the salt method and lets just say it wasn't pleasant cleaning up the mess. Luckily we've not had any since so im hoping it was just a rogue couple!
foxhat · 28/02/2021 12:35

It's not a new thing. We had a couple of them in the kitchen in my student flat 25 years ago. Revolting. We had a grass garden though. I wonder if patio garden is better as there is less of interest to them so they will move away from the house? I'd check that btw as I am just guessing here! I think if you keep the patio free of dirt they will be more likely to wander elsewhere. You can put slug pellets down too as a deterrent perhaps?

Eckhart · 28/02/2021 12:37

@Plump82

Yes, you have to be strategic!

Fleetheart · 28/02/2021 12:42

Personally I wouldn’t go for a lower ground flat for this very reason. But it’s all about damp. We had a Victorian terrace and a big slug problem. We got the damp problem sorted and no slugs after that.

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 12:58

Thanks everyone! Looks like I will have to look for a high-rise property!

OP posts:
QueenStromba · 28/02/2021 13:13

We had slugs in a ground floor flat. It was very damp though - there was standing water in the cellar.

bluejelly · 28/02/2021 13:28

I would tackle the phobia too. Slugs are completely harmless and shouldn't be dictating your life choices!
(I used to be scared of spiders so I know what it's like...)

WendyJames35 · 28/02/2021 13:39

We used to live in a Victorian terrace, and had loads of slugs downstairs in the house. Too many gaps for them to come in through.

If I went into the kitchen at night time, there would be a gathering of them on the floor. I even found them in the dishwasher. Absolutely horrible.

Have lived in a new house for 6 years now, no evidence of slugs ever having gained entry.

UKhun · 28/02/2021 13:55

I lived in a lower ground floor flat got a year and yes, I had a few slugs in during the summer when windows were open.

I trod on a huge one in the night on my way to the bathroom in the dark. That gave me a shock!

I'd rather slugs than mice any day though!!

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 14:05

@bluejelly very sensible, I really should tackle it as it dictates quite a few things in my life - for example I'm terrified of garden parties as I know the creepy crawlies come out when it gets darker...

@WendyJames35 @UKhun so they seem to come through windows or gaps... Is that gaps in the walls, like tiny cracks, or visible gaps at the bottom of doors? For example could they be living in the walls and come in through the tiniest possible way - around pipes, etc..

Just asking so that I know what to look for when I view the flat - haven't seen it yet. I'm almost certain not to take it though, heard enough horror stories now! Sad

OP posts:
WendyJames35 · 28/02/2021 14:27

@YellowSapphire Yes, they do find their way in through small gaps. There are ways to get rid of them though, I'm sure! I still would have had those years living in our old house, because I loved it.

It was our first house, the house we bought our babies home to and about far more than the slugs! I never saw one in the house in daylight(apart from the dishwasher incident).

Slugs in your house are pretty grim, but if you like the flat, don't miss out on what could be a great opportunity for you.

UKhun · 28/02/2021 14:52

Yellow sapphire - pretty sure they only came in through the open bathroom window.

I also had to deal with quite a few spiders - it actually cured my spider phobia living alone in that flat - I have no trouble at all with them now!

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 16:25

@WendyJames35 Thanks, that puts things into perspective! I suppose I could get a pest control firm in, just to make sure the flat has no cracks...

@UKhun That's more hopeful - I would keep windows closed all the time! Sorry to hear about spiders, but good that it cured your phobia...I might try and get rid of mine via therapy..

OP posts:
TeaPiglet · 28/02/2021 16:43

You should be more concerned about mice and being more vulnerable to crimes like burglary. I personally wouldn't take a ground floor flat unless I had no other option at all. Then I'd just make the best of it. Decorate nice etc. You'll be grand OP

Original poster
YellowSapphire · 28/02/2021 18:46

@TeaPiglet Oddly, I don't mind mice. I put traps down to keep them under control; it's very sad but there are un unbelievable number where I live, so they would just take over otherwise!

Burglary is a worry though, I hope they have bars on the windows & doors...

Thanks for the reassurance!

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