Are rats the landlord's responsibility?

Question

Hi, I recently moved into a ground floor flat, the landlord owns the whole building. There's a fire escape which comes down into a small communal yard which is outside our living room window, and kitchen door. Our housemate has seen a rat there during the daytime (I heard this was a bad sign and might mean there are quite alot nearby?) The lease says nothing about who's responsibility pests would be, but I'd think it'd be in the landlord's best interests to get rid of rats because of the damage they could do. Is there any kind of law that says rats in communal areas are the landlord's responsibility to get rid of or that they have to get rid of them to provide decent living conditions? The landlord seems a bit old and confused and also rather stingey so I'm just asking this incase we explain about the rat and he doesn't do anything.

There's nothing about communal areas in the lease, probably because it's just really a space for the fire escape stairs to come down to.

Also because we've just moved in it's definately not out fault because we've never left any food around and we put our bin bags in the right wheelie bin out the front of the building, we've never left any rubbish in the yard at the back.

A few more details - as I said above there's an alley which runs at the back of the buildings in the street, it's full of binbags and old sofas and stuff, also we live next to 3 buildings which are boarded up after there was a fire so that's the reason why I'm thinking the landlord could possibly claim the rats are coming from there if he wanted to get out of any responsibility for the problem. And yes this is in the UK, N. Ireland to be specific.

Answer 1

if you recently moved in, the rats are landlord's responsibility.

complain to the health department

Answer 2

Hello. I just recently moved out of a home in which I was renting a room for the exact same reason. I can tell you that the best answer that you received so far is from the gentleman who is actually a landlord. IT IS THE LANDLORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. Even if the rat has not actually shown up in your unit, if it is anywhere on the property, he is responsible. The same stands true if you happen to start getting roaches, mice, ants, fleas, etc. in your unit. Of course you can always do your part by remaining clean and tidy, but the cost of extermination is that of the landlord's. Period. If you are somewhat internet savvy and have access to a computer, you can research "landlord responsibility" online. You will find tons of information that will explain what the landlord is and is not responsible for.

Answer 3

Hi I am assuming you are British by the fact you live on the ground floor not the first floor! If this is the case then it is the responsibility of the local council Enviromental health department to sort your rat problem out for you. Most councils do not charge for this service, and will send a pest control officer out to assess the problem and lay traps and or poison if appropriate. Just ring your local council and report the problem and they will make an appointment to see you and assess the whole area. If they suspect the infestation is in a neighbours house they will make efforts to deal with it there too (ie: recommend that neighbours stop leaving food out for birds etc.) and have the legal powers to gain access to properties to ensure the nest is destroyed. Of course, you could always do as we do and get yourselves a cat - that wouldn't cost you anything either and look at all the love you'd get! ;o)

Nessie

Answer 4

Advise the Landlord of the situation but offer to call the council and arrange for the pest control people to come.
Make sure the Landlord will accept the bill either directly or as a reduction against your rent when you provide a receipt for any charges.

Rats are endemic and it has been suggested that as they live in the sewers in great numbers we are never more than about 30 yards from one at any time. Don't know how accurate that is but it sounds plausible.

Answer 5

Well, it appears that there are a lot of differing opinions on this one. As a landlord for the last 20 years, its been my experience that there isn't a "pat" answer for these kinds of problems.
1. Where do the rodents live, on the property or nearby in an abandoned farmhouse or what have you? IF so its the responsibility of the owners of that separate property and the municipal jurisdiction to remove and/or eradicate them. I think the landlord has some responsibility to keep them off his property if he knows they are there. At least do what is reasonable to achieve that end.
2. If they live on the property, regardless of how they got there he's responsible for their continued residency once he knows about it. Depending on how they got there he could have some recourse to recover some costs
3. If they are someones pets that have gone wild..He still is responsible or their running free along with the owners to catch and confine them but probably not kill them unless they have bitten someone.

I'm sure an attorney could take this a lot further regarding who's in the rat-hole so to speak... GL in resolving this. :)

Answer 6

Get in touch with the Environmental Health Department of your Local Authority and they will dispatch the extermination officer to deal not only with your premises but the surrounding premises by laying down bait. Rats are viewed as a communal problem, as they tend to wander about. If there is a specific source of the problem in the area, i.e. unhygienic conditions encouraging them to breed, then perhaps it will be necessary to serve an abatement notice.

Answer 7

It is normally the Local Authority.

Some Landlords do carry out Rat Killing, however it is a responsibility that can cripple a Landlord financially.

The Rat population is caused by the Local Authorities relaxed attitude towards Public Cleansing anyway.

Might be a good idea though if you all did a bit of self help; rats are attracted to rubbish and old food....clean up (if it needs it).

Answer 8

Usually the landlord would be the responsible party for removing any type of pest's such as rat's unless their would be a reason that the tenant caused the rats in the apartment (Excessive Garbage) such as very bad living conditions. However, in your case, the landlord should remove the rat infestation.

Answer 9

I would of thought it was the landlord responsibility if he will not sort it out by getting the pest control officer in then phone the Environmental Health Department and let them send him the bill.

Answer 10

Rats are a public health authotituy issue and therefore unless they are your rats, I would think the landlord has prime responsibility