Rats !!!

[maximo]

Hi all. I live in a rented ground-floor flat, and my kitchen faces a rather shabby back-yard ( where the fireescape for the people above is ). This backyard gives onto a back alley, where the bins are. The other day, I was happily cooking in the kitchen, looked out the window and saw a HUGE rat sitting there. After I'd yelled loud enough to wake a few people up in Australia, I spent the whole evening fretting about it. Next day, I called my letting agent, who said they would call Pest Control for me, and would get back to me asap. That was on Tuesday. I still have not heard from them. I called again on wed, then on thursday, but still nothing happened. The thing is, my rent was due on the 1st, and I have not paid it as a result. Am I right to do this, or could I get in trouble ?? I do not want to pay rent until they have sorted this out, because I know the landlord will never do anything about it as long as he has his money. Also, the oven was not working when I moved in, and neither was one of the sockets in my bedroom. He said he would fix these asap. That was almost 4 months ago now. I'm even thinking of moving out after the rat episode ! summer is coming, and I can't even open a window ! Sorry about the long post...Any advice ??

[Ethel]

Pay the rent and inform the council's environmental health department.

[Eric Git]

Hi,

Give the Citizens Advice a ring and they'll help you out, it willprobably be to do with the wording of your contract. If you really want to frighten your landlord into doing something, then start mentioning words like Health and Safety and getting the council round to inspect the premises on enivornmental issues, that should get him moving.

Good luck.

[maximo]

Hi ! thank you for your replies. I have just called the city council, and they said they would send someone but it's a chargeable service , for which the landlord has to pay. I then called my landlord and he said he'd called them and they are coming round to put some poison there *shudders*....So I guess it;s ok now, but I'm still scared to open the window now.I think it's time to move to better horizons !

[undercovers]

its only a rat - there are millions of them, all over the place - you can't let it upset you so much... that is until they actually get in the house, but as long as you keep the place clean and tidy and all food kept sealed up then you won't have a prob... i'm sure they can't jump in your windows :)

[maximo]

thanks undercovers, but the little devils can climb, and jump, and god knows what else !!! aaaarghhhhhhhhh ! I'm going flippin paranoid here...can hardly sit on the sofa without putting my feet up in the air, just in case ! lol

[noxlumos]

As undercovers says your getting a bit het up. It's only a rat. When I was a kid they were all over the place in the back yards. Just relax, there is a theory that no-one is ever further than 5 yards away from a rat anyway, you just happened to see yours. Ring environmental Health and they'll sort him for you:). We have them in our stable blocks and barns, they won't come into the house usually, so don't worry too much.

[Louis]

Hi,I have had some problems with my letting agents....the window's in my flat are broken and they are delaying repairs, they have asked me not to use one of the rooms till an air vent can be fitted, this still hasn't happened, when I called I was told that it's not important that I can't use the room (even though paying for a two bedroom flat) as 'there is only one of you there'..like that is a reason...I too have considered withholding next months rent if this is not sorted. I have since been told that it is a 'bigger' job than expected...all of which should have been sorted BEFORE I was given the flat, and I was promised it would all be sorted within the week of me moving in! My advice...contact Citizen's advice http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ to get advice on your rights...I am contacting them too..so I will let you know what I hear if I find the time! Also, have a wee read of your contract...I'm sure that your landlord/letting agent will be obligated to ungo repairs within a reasonable amount of time and bound by law in cases of vermin. Hope things work out mate! :)

[Goyambokka]

I sympathise, Maximo. I loathe rats.
You may have things sorted by now, but in any case this is a useful site, especially the forum, for tenants and landlords both!

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk