We have been in our property for a few years now with no issues. Last Autumn we had a rat - I paid for pest control to come out who found the previous owner/tenant had already laid traps.
It was a thorough, if not expensive service and they seemed quite perplexed that we would even have a rat inside the house - they couldn't find any obvious entry or exit points so said they must use a door or window which is rare.
We found a dead rat in the garden which coincided with no further evidence of them being inside.
Until last night, when I heard a loud banging and saw the most gigantic sod in our downstairs bathroom. He had obviously got trapped in there by accident and had chewed off some of the door frame and skirting, causing damage.
We have a clear garden, a clean home with no food lying around. We are woods adjacent as well as near a large pond, as well as the neighbour also having a pond.
Our contract says:
During the tenancy you must take reasonable measures to keep the Premises free of vermin (for example, rats), fleas or parasites. If the Premises becomes infested because of something you have or have not done, you will have to pay the appropriate costs of putting this right and cleaning any parts of the Premises which are affected.
I guess my question is, are we now also liable for the damage the rat has done? I cant afford to pay pest control again and will have to borrow the money to sort it but I really do not want to lose my deposit because of the damage. The property is obviously a magnet for rodents.
Is it worth discussing with the LL as obviously he doesnt want his property damaged either?