Pest Control
Example of member question - We have had the same tenants for many years in a property, they have just discovered mice in the kitchen, not my fault, they want me to send and pay for pest Control.
Do you have anything official looking concerning their responsibility to deal with this problem that I could send to them?
PIMS Answer
This is the problem when it come to pest control, arguably this becomes landlords responsibility under HHSRS https://www.pims.co.uk/the-29-hazard-specified-in-hhsrs/
(C )Protection against Infection - Domestic hygiene, Pests and Refuse
Unless due to tenant lifestyle – in which case they are liable – but this would be determined by pest controller
The government guidance is complicated see the guide Housing Health And Safety Rating System - HHSRS
As an example page 109 15.22
This covers rodents
The design and construction should reduce, so far as is possible, any means of access
by pests from the outside into the dwelling. All openings into drains should be sealed
with an effective water seal; this includes openings such as into the wc basin and
drainage inlets for waste and surface water. To prevent mice entering there should be
no holes or gaps in excess of 6.25mm. Service entry points should be effectively sealed
as should any points in walls penetrated by waste, drain or other pipes or cables. There
should not be any holes through roof coverings, eaves and verges which might allow
access into the roof space of rats, mice, squirrels or birds. Any necessary holes for
ventilation should be covered with grilles.
Example tenant lifestyle
15.15 Poorly stored food waste will attract pests including flies, cockroaches, ants, wasps,
mice, rats, birds, foxes, squirrels, cats and dogs. Some of the insect pests may use the
waste for harbourage, as a site for egg-laying and development of larval stages, and all
can be vectors for pathogenic organisms which may breed in the food-associated waste.
These pests may then come into contact with food before it is prepared or eaten or
may come into direct contact with persons. Unless properly disposed of, the potential
dangers from household waste will increase as pathogenic organisms multiply. In
addition, the waste will become a source of smells.