Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Mice infestation in council flat....

tonysingh

tonysingh

Random Clever and Witty Strapline
OK, so this might just be me venting and I'll almost certainly swear so apologies in advance yeah? Also, it might go a bit all over the shop but I'm having trouble getting my thoughts together.

Right, so I live in Medway. All of the council housing here is now run by MHS, a housing association. I've been in this flat since early 2015. For many months now, probably since I left jail, I've heard scratching from the walls. I did put this down to next doors cat playing right next to the wall. Then there was scratching and movement and squeaking from interior walls. Laugh if you like but I did think it was bats, as there genuinely are some flying around at night here.

That was until the other week when I moved a couple boxes in the boiler cupboard and found rodent droppings. :( since then they been popping up everywhere. My flat is clean, it's not like I've done a dirty protest here so I was in a right state. I was gonna put poison and traps in the boiler cupboard But I've now been seeing mice in the fucking flat. Just saw one now taking some of my dog's food into the walls. The other day I heard them right by where i was sitting watching telly and one of them ran out from under my sofa. I've then looked under the cushions and found droppings. So now I'm more or less confined to the bedroom since I got nothing to sit on in front room. I can't sit on the sofa now I know it's had them in it. I've had to throw away my pots and pans because I found droppings in there too.

Since 10 days ago I've been onto MHS to sort it out and they've done nothing, apart from send a pest control guy who took one look and said they're coming in from outside because your block, and the whole estate, is so badly designed. The boiler was replaced in the cupboard but they didn't refill the flue hole (pics attached) so that's a highway for them. Ditto in the utility cupboard room where about 16 months ago asbestos was removed but the works wasn't made good and now there's holes. Pest control dude says it's pointless him putting traps and that down until all the remedial work is done. The best mhs can do for me apparently is Friday next week, the 20th and that's only to do holes in the boiler cupboard.

I've not slept proper since I noticed them, I'm lucky if I get 2 or 3 hours of broken sleep due to hearing them and seeing them. Fuck me, I've spent one night with my dog just walking the streets. My mental health is slipping badly, I'm drifting close to doing stupid shit because I'm so wound up. I get hallucinations and thst, but I'm definitely not imagining thr mice, as been suggested by others. I've called mhs umpteen times, tearful (yes I know it's sad) and begging but nothing. If they can't sort it soon, I feel like giving up my tenancy.

Again, if you've made it to the end of this wee rant then well done you innit. If you have advice, or anyhting at all, fire away. Obviously I'm keeping on at them but I'm losing my patience.

IMG_20190913_163612.jpg IMG_20190913_163641.jpg IMG_20190913_163648.jpg
 
I don't know what's best to do but just don't give up your tenancy. Don't!

It seems as though neighbours must have the same problem. Talk to Tenants' Association if there is one? Talk to your local councillor? Letters to local newspaper?

I'm a bit disappointed, to be honest, that you don't already have mouse-eating pets. :)
 
Sorry to hear this tony. Firstly, I wouldn't give up the tenancy - a HA tenancy is worth retaining given it is more secure than a private one. You're doing the right thing by chasing them on getting the repairs done, but you could also consider contacting your local councillor to see if they can push for a longer term fix for the estate. If there are major design flaws I expect a fix might be expensive, so you could ask if the HA have planned for this and when.

Worth considering putting in a Freedom of Information request to the council* to see how many residents of the estate have reported problems with mice, etc. That could be useful ammunition, although I don't know how the HA might manage pest control issues. They might just ask the local authority to deal with it on their behalf (in which case the LA will hold data), or they might use a private contractor (in which case they wouldn't be obliged to provide any data). Happy to help you with the wording of this if you like.

* HAs are not covered by FOIA - see here and here.
 
Celyn said:
I don't know what's best to do but just don't give up your tenancy. Don't!

It seems as though neighbours must have the same problem. Talk to Tenants' Association if there is one? Talk to your local councillor? Letters to local newspaper?

I'm a bit disappointed, to be honest, that you don't already have mouse-eating pets. :)
Click to expand...

I'm going to ring them in the morning. I can literally hear the mice right now, this is getting to a tipping point. I known binning off my tenancy seems extreme but I can't stay here, I just can't. The neighbours I talk to, I know they have the mice too, they've seen them. We don't have a tenants association, at least not that I'm aware of.

I do have mice eating pets, I have snakes. But.....I don't think I'll be catching these ones for them. :D
 
farmerbarleymow said:
Could you let the snakes go free range to eat the mice? I don't know how many mice a typical snake can eat each day, but their presence might freak the mice out so they fuck off to a neighbours flat.
Click to expand...

I'd be slightly concerned about the snakes fucking off into the neighbours flats too. Be a bit hard to explain when they find a Royal python in the front room, or a FWC in the bath.
 
Don't sack off the tenancy Tony, surely harder to get another than deal with the mice. Anywhere you can crash for a week until they start sorting it? Can you borrow a cat? Even though he says no point in traps until he's sealed the holes if they are coming in from outside traps there ought to slow it down a bit.
 
JimW said:
Don't sack off the tenancy Tony, surely harder to get another than deal with the mice. Anywhere you can crash for a week until they start sorting it? Can you borrow a cat? Even though he says no point in traps until he's sealed the holes if they are coming in from outside traps there ought to slow it down a bit.
Click to expand...

I'm straight on the phone when they open up to get them to send the pest control dude back out. I'm going to pieces on the phone like though. The stress like is what's making me want to bin it off here. It's feeding into other head stuff if that makes sense? Making me properly unwell like.
 
No one else to stay with, nowhere to go, can't afford hotel. I think tonight is gonna be anither with zero sleep coz of this. I cba hear the mice doing what sounds like circuits in the walls.
 
tonysingh said:
I'm straight on the phone when they open up to get them to send the pest control dude back out. I'm going to pieces on the phone like though. The stress like is what's making me want to bin it off here. It's feeding into other head stuff if that makes sense? Making me properly unwell like.
Click to expand...
No, can imagine the effect. Just seen your other post about nowhere to crash either. Can you secure a little space just to sleep in with earplugs? Some sort of DIY fence and traps?
 
JimW said:
No, can imagine the effect. Just seen your other post about nowhere to crash either. Can you secure a little space just to sleep in with earplugs? Some sort of DIY fence and traps?
Click to expand...

I have music on just now, but obviously can't sleep with it on. Just seen it's 4 am. They open at 0800 or 0830. Not much point in sleep now I think.
 
Is there an ACORN group in your area? might be worth asking them for help/advice. Sounds like you need some support... dont move out though! If it's really awful could you go anywhere else for a few days just for your own wellbeing?

Make sure in your flat at least, everything is spotless and all food is in either fridge, freezer or tupperware boxes in cupboards.

Main way to reduce mouse problem is just make it very very hard for them to get any grub at all. You can also try those plugs too which make a sound they hate.
 
Agree with everyone about not giving up your tenancy, keep a roof on your head. Buy yourself some steel wool and plug every hole, nook and cranny you see with it, they hate the stuff, they can't claw through it.If possible fill gaps with foam filler too.
I had to do this in my airing cupboard, my place is an old terraced house, most of the house has been modernised but this was their main little entry point. It was the only place they dared venture after we got a cat to prevent a similar problem to what you have.

All the best in sorting it.
 
Hassle the housing people but also start having a look at how to fill any holes they leave yourself. Make a project of it. Seal off all food sources. Get humane traps and get free food for the snakes. And remember they're only mice, and you're the fella with a flat full of snakes and spiders. Don't give up the tenancy. Go and kip in the park a couple of nights if you have to but don't let the flat go. You will get rid of the mice.
 
Yep, putting some traps down and filling the holes with steel wool mixed with caulking compound would be a good start.

I've heard snake feces and shed skins can also repel mice, not sure if this would work with British mice but could be worth a shot if you've got an endless supply of snake shit.
 
Don't give up the tenancy Tony ! Put pressure on the HA via your MP or local councillors, stress the impact on your mental health. The local Council will have pest control as well but there is a charge (I paid about £70) to Hackney Pest Control a few years ago , having a cat now seems to have sorted it though .
 
My daughter had a mouse problem in her flat a few years ago, and she swears by glue traps.

I understand why some would suggest humane traps, but when it's a serious infestation and it's effecting you as you say, you need to focus on what will work above all else.
 
andysays said:
My daughter had a mouse problem in her flat a few years ago, and she swears by glue traps.

I understand why some would suggest humane traps, but when it's a serious infestation and it's effecting you as you say, you need to focus on what will work above all else.
Click to expand...
Glue traps are pretty much the worst of all possible worlds...including the fact that they can only be used once, and you quite often end up having to administer the coup de grace.

Personally, in the OP's position, I'd be using traps, if only to make a bit of a dent in the numbers. You can get snap traps for around £2 each - and there's some quite nifty plastic jobs which do a good job of sparing you the sight of little mousey's dead face (I used to use a bog paper shroud to avoid this issue).

And yes, temporarily blocking those fucking enormous holes would be a start, too - that really is a disgrace.
 
I was called by a tenant once when I managed and worked on a Council Estate - she told me she had caught a mouse on a glue trap and asked if I could help her get rid of it. I popped around- the dead mouse was on the glue trap, I was trying to remove the strip with the dead mouse on it , and accidently stepped on it - meaning the gluey strip and dead mouse was attached to my shoe for a while :facepalm:
 
marty21 said:
I was called by a tenant once when I managed and worked on a Council Estate - she told me she had caught a mouse on a glue trap and asked if I could help her get rid of it. I popped around- the dead mouse was on the glue trap, I was trying to remove the strip with the dead mouse on it , and accidently stepped on it - meaning the gluey strip and dead mouse was attached to my shoe for a while :facepalm:
Click to expand...
Might have become a hipster fashion if you'd stuck with it.
 
I've managed, after moaning at people, ton get them to come out tomorrow. They're gonna fill in holes, make good and as they're doing that, the pest control dude will be here doing his thing. I'm also told there have been a number of complaints from all over the estate about rodents and the pest control company have put in to the council etc about works that need doing all over the estate to kill them off.

However.... I'm also buggered a bit because I can't really use my sofa since one ran out frk under it, same with the cupboard where all my pots n pans were. Fuck knows how I'm gonna replace that lot, I asked the HA and they said they expected all tenants to have household insurance. I get it's my fault I didn't but it's no help right now. :facepalm:
 
tonysingh said:
I've managed, after moaning at people, ton get them to come out tomorrow. They're gonna fill in holes, make good and as they're doing that, the pest control dude will be here doing his thing. I'm also told there have been a number of complaints from all over the estate about rodents and the pest control company have put in to the council etc about works that need doing all over the estate to kill them off.

However.... I'm also buggered a bit because I can't really use my sofa since one ran out frk under it, same with the cupboard where all my pots n pans were. Fuck knows how I'm gonna replace that lot, I asked the HA and they said they expected all tenants to have household insurance. I get it's my fault I didn't but it's no help right now. :facepalm:
Click to expand...
Can't you wash the pots and pans? I'd really like to say 'they're only mice' in the same tone of voice you probably say 'it's only a spider' quite often.
 
tonysingh said:
I've managed, after moaning at people, ton get them to come out tomorrow. They're gonna fill in holes, make good and as they're doing that, the pest control dude will be here doing his thing. I'm also told there have been a number of complaints from all over the estate about rodents and the pest control company have put in to the council etc about works that need doing all over the estate to kill them off.

However.... I'm also buggered a bit because I can't really use my sofa since one ran out frk under it, same with the cupboard where all my pots n pans were. Fuck knows how I'm gonna replace that lot, I asked the HA and they said they expected all tenants to have household insurance. I get it's my fault I didn't but it's no help right now. :facepalm:
Click to expand...
No need to replace anything. Just give it a clean.

It's hard living with the little feckers scurrying about. But you lived with them fine before you realised what they were. You'll survive.

Be strong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Council tax bands
Replies
7
Views
482
Carvaged
C
C
fuel/cost of living money from local council - has it been sequestered cos I get HB?
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
scifisam
scifisam
hitmouse
Council tax debt
Replies
20
Views
1K
Elpenor
Elpenor
savoloysam
Buying a leasehold flat - worth the risk?
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
bimble
bimble
steveo87
Mistakenly not paid Council Tax since April...
Replies
4
Views
447
Epona
Epona
Back
Top Bottom