How to remove vermin from your rental property

With autumn comes pumpkin flavours, cosy jumpers and a battle over who gets to control the thermostat. But this time of year can also bring unwanted guests to our homes, looking for shelter from the incoming frost.

Bountiful food and warmth is something we all seek, but rats, mice and other creepy crawlies have a sneaky way of going about it.

So, as a residential landlord, what are your responsibilities? What can you do to support your tenants or protect your property if you’re invaded by unwanted creatures? Let’s open the door and find out.

The impact of pests

Sharing your home with vermin can be distressing for anyone, especially if it impacts health and well-being. Pests can also cause structural property damage, therefore, dealing with the root cause is paramount.

Unlike Remy, the star of the 2007 film Ratatouille, rats and mice aren’t fussy when it comes to what they eat. To keep their teeth in shape they need to gnaw. Rodents are known to chew through wooden beams, floorboards and doors as well as metal and plastic piping, drywall and insulation.

If they burrow to create nests it can even undermine the structural integrity of a property as well as cause electrical risks as they chew through cables and wiring.

Grey squirrels can also cause untold damage to property. In the UK and Europe, they’re classified as an Invasive Alien Species because they’re not native. They can also be incredibly loud. Squirrels are most active between four and five hours before sunrise, so if they’re sharing your property, your tenants could be in for some sleepless nights.

Rodents — including squirrels — can also carry several diseases which can be transmitted to humans. Inhaling air contaminated by droppings and eating food that’s been tampered with are just some ways germs are passed to humans. Not as cute as they look…

While wasp and hornet nests may be less structurally damaging, living with the threat of a notoriously painful sting is less than pleasant. They are also territorial which means that the part of the property where they’ve set up shop can become out of bounds.

Identifying the problem

There are around 120 million rats roaming around the UK, approximately 19 million of which scurry around London — that’s about two rats for every person.

According to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, there are approximately 2.5 million grey squirrels in the UK, who, like their rat cousins, live in close proximity to humans. Both species are somewhat dependent on the people around them for food, water and shelter.

With this many rodents living alongside us, it’s no wonder some of them end up in our homes.

As a landlord, you’re probably not at the property all the time, so you’re relying on your tenants to notify you if there is a problem. Early detection is obviously beneficial, but sometimes pests can be sneaky and take up residency gradually, avoiding immediate detection.

The key is to get your tenants to report any unusual animal activity as they notice it. Ask them to reach out to you if they hear buzzing sounds, have more wasps hanging around or if they see rodent droppings or notice scratching noises or gnaw marks.

Whose responsibility is it?

As a landlord, you’re likely to be responsible for dealing with an infestation if it says as such on the tenancy agreement. For example, if the wording confirms that you’ll keep the property in a “good and habitable state”.

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords are legally required to ensure the properties they rent are “fit for human habitation at the time the lease is granted… and will remain fit for human habitation during the term of the lease”.

You may also be responsible if the infestation was caused by you neglecting to make certain repairs to the property. This includes not fixing holes in the walls — where rodents can gain entry — or leaving missing roof tiles — where wasps and hornets like to create nests.

Landlords are also often responsible for dealing with pests if it means your tenant's home isn’t safe for them to live in, or if it’s making them or their family ill.

If your property is empty, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t become a haven for certain pests who will take advantage of the peace and quiet. Before you lock the doors and walk away, make sure all potential areas of entry are taken care of — lock all windows, close the internal doors and patch up any holes.

You’ll want to avoid what happened to a Peterborough property, which was vacant just for a few weeks until a colony of wasps set up home in a toilet cistern.

The tenant, however, also has responsibilities to keep the property clean and avoid encouraging pests. This includes ensuring they don’t leave food or rubbish out, covering their bins and keeping the garden neat and tidy.

Your tenant should also notify you if they suspect a critter has invaded your property.

How to deal with an infestation

Once you’ve been notified, it’s important to take the report seriously and team up with your tenant to eradicate pests before they become infestations.

You can opt for DIY removal methods like glue traps or poisons before bringing in the professionals. Bear in mind that it’s not recommended to try and tackle wasp or hornet nests yourself.

Not only can their sting lead to allergic reactions, but they usually build nests in hard-to-reach places so you can get seriously hurt trying to deal with them without the pros in tow.

Depending on how difficult it is for you to attend the property to inspect the issue you may provide your tenant with the means to deal with the pest themselves.

Consider that some tenants may not be physically able to take on this extra work, so a bit of give and take may be required.

What to expect from a pest control company

If you decide to call in a pest control company, you’ll want to keep your tenant informed. You can expect them to arrange a time suitable for all parties so that full access can be gained to the property.

The pest controllers will conduct inspections and provide remedial action either there and then or at a convenient date in the future. They may also provide follow-up inspections and provide you with advice on infestation prevention.

You’ll want to ensure that you and your tenant are kept informed of any future visits and any further action that needs to be taken.

The professionals will be able to advise whether your tenants can remain in the property while infestations are being dealt with and how to keep your tenant's children and any pets safe from harm.

Some local authorities do provide pest control services free of charge, so it’s worth checking the council website to see if this is the case.

If you have insurance like landlords’ home emergency cover, you’ll have access to additional support — like a 24-hour helpline and get a certified tradesperson to your property to help you tackle the issue.

In addition, you could get up to £300 to put towards temporary accommodation for your tenants should it be required.

How can you prevent an infestation?

Obviously, the key to preventing a pest problem is to put measures in place so that the critters can’t take hold. As a landlord, the best way to do this includes conducting regular property inspections and sealing obvious entry points like gaps, cracks and holes.

If your property has a garden, you might consider choosing plants that repel certain creepy crawlies, like mint or wormwood — both disliked by wasps. Squirrels aren’t a fan of daffodils and alliums because of their strong smell. And rats — who also have a strong sense of smell — are put off by plants like lavender.

Keeping any garden areas tidy with open compost kept away from the main house can also be beneficial, as rats are fond of the warmth and food source that compost can provide. If your tenants feed garden birds, encourage them to use rodent-proof feeders and store feed securely.

Proper waste management and sanitation practices are also important as rodents especially need a regular food and water source. So fix leaky outdoor taps and cover drains and ensure tenants have access to covered outdoor bins to store their waste before bin day should this be allowed by your local authority.

Where can I get more information?

To learn more about the pests that can invade properties head to the British Pest Control Association website.

They provide detailed guidance on all the bugs and critters that invade our homes and can help connect you with pest controllers in your area.