My neighbour is trying to force me to allow her pest control company to inspect my garden

I know what it is to have difficult neighbours. I had one ‘from hell’ in my previous house. The crunch came, when, on my return from holiday, I found he had taken down the existing boundary wall and erected a new one 6 feet into my garden. There was no point talking to him, so I went the legal route. I won the case. He was made to pay his costs and mine (minus the initial consultation fee) and had to take down the wall and replace it in the original position. I was so proud that I was strong enough to take on this monstrous man, all on my own, having not long been divorced ….

Make sure of her boundary rights and that she has no access rights to your garden especially if it is through your house.
Phone your Council and ask if there have been any other complaints about rats in your area. Then explain your predicament they might do a one-off check for you.
Also, check your house insurance we did not know but ours covers us for pests which we found out last summer when we had a huge infestation of wasps.

Why housing associations? Don't you both own your homes?
Have you ever checked she had planning permission to go right up to the boundary?
Definitely do her for harassment, and tell the council everything was fine until she had the extension built!!
They probably started nesting in or under there while it was being built, in which case there'll be tunnels everywhere!!

I took down my bird feeders as I had mice coming into the kitchen. I got pest control who dealt with the problem. I'm not sure why you would be so antagonistic if she is paying for pest control to check. Better safe than sorry.

Rats were getting into the loft of my daughters house via the outside wall cavity. They nibbled their way through the insulation filling. No matter how they tried, they never got rid of the rats completely and eventually moved house.

It's not only bird feeders. We started getting rats a few years ago, having never seen one before. We got rid of our bird feeders. We later found out that one neighbour stored his fish food in his garden shed, and the rats had found their way in. Since he had his shed and fence fixed we haven't seen a rat. Although we're waiting for the spring when they need to feed their young before we decide to put bird feeders back out.

If they are paying for it let them in to do a check, then get them to write your neighbour telling her that there are no rats on your property ( hopefully).
If she still harasses you threaten her with legal action, that should shut her up.
There are people who are paranoid about certain things, it sounds as thought her particular problem is Rats and she has you firmly down to blame, not wanting to accept that rats can come from anywhere in the vicinity even from her other neighbours.

I never have a bird feeder, much as I would love to. We had loads of rats in one of our gardens and the guys who got rid of them said never to have a bird feeder.

Pepper59

Does your neighbour have a bird feeder? They attract rats. Our neighbour got rid of hers for that reason.

A few hours ago I saw a Rat on our bird feeders, never seen that before especially as one of my Cats is a "killer queen" and known for bringing home Squirrels, mice (almost on a daily basis) plus the occasional Field Rat.
But if I see this again I'm taking down the feeders.

Don’t they say we are all only a few feet away from a rat.
I understand your frustration, neighbours both sides and at the end of the garden all built extensions to the boundary wall which requires/d access through our drive/garden. It’s v.annoying especially as we havnt even had a thankyou.
Feeling squeezed,

Does your neighbour have a bird feeder? They attract rats. Our neighbour got rid of hers for that reason.

If your neighbour had a wall built right up to the boundary line. They have no right to demand access from your property. They should have been told this when planning permission was applied for. I would also suggest visiting your council planning department. Just to be sure you are properly informed and armed with the right information.
You are being harassed by what sounds like bullies. My son was in a very similar situation recently with an aggressive neighbour about boundary walls. He went for advice at his council office. Then went to a solicitors to have notice written up should the access to the boundary arise again. It cost my son a bit of money but he considers it worth the expense. I would also stop all communication with the neighbours on an everyday basis. I hope your troubles are sorted out sooner than later.

You could pay for an inspection of your own property to establish if there is a problem. If you don't have rats, then you can show them the report and suggest they contact the Council. I think they can refer you to the Council if they suspect the rats are also on your property and you are doing nothing about it.

Speak to the local branch of Age UK or your local Citizens Advice.

If she is paying for it all, I would let them do it - it is to your advantage to have the inspection. If you have a field behind you then rats are just a fact of life.

She is harassing you. I’d get a solicitors letter sent to her. So long as you are not feeding wild birds which I know can attract rats, I’d raise two fingers & get on with my life!

I assume by 'her drains' you mean the drains in her garden. What I don't understand is why the pest control people haven't followed up by checking her pipes/drains to see how the rats are getting into her attic. We had a problem with mice and the pest control people did that, although it turned out to be nearby trees not the drains that were giving the mice access.

I think I would be tempted to go to the council myself and explain the problem and ask their advice to stop the harrassment.

There are always rats in drains - no problem, unless they can find a way out. How do they get into their roof (probably from their own pipe)?

Neighbours like this are a real pain. They like to think that everything is your fault, not theirs. So, you end up having to prove it isn't, over and over again. Time to put a stop to it.

If Environmental Health want to inspect, then let them - but don't allow random traders onto your property. I certainly wouldn't! The only valid reason would be for maintenance of their wall - and I'd argue about whether that was necessary.

I would let them check out your garden again and done with it..... if the rats are in her drains they won't be just in HER drains but in surrounding drains .