Mice and rats coming from empty house next door

There’s a derelict house on our little culdesac. The owners built a self contained extension to this and are living in it, but the original derelict part is still standing - such an eyesore 😫

Exactly the same thing happened to me. The bungalow I’m attached to was empty for six years. The estate agent lied about the lengthy time when I bought mine two years ago.

The first winter was OK but last winter was terrible. Mice got into my bedroom and sitting room and it was so bad I woke one morning to find droppings across the top of my headboard!! They got into my wardrobe and the divan drawer and I had to throw some summer clothes away.

I immediately contacted Environmental Health and they were quick to respond. They contacted one of the owners (the bungalow had been left to three sisters) and insisted they pay for the pest control which they put in place. I also did my own pest control my side because after years of farming before I moved it was something I was used to. My neighbours all knew the history of stubborn disagreement between the sisters over selling the property so I decided not to let up and also complained about the seriously overgrown garden and derelict sheds. They dealt with the worst bits but did nothing about the deep pile of rotten apples which led to more vermin.

Finally my persistence paid off and the bungalow went to auction last October. The new owners are doing a full renovation so I now have the joys of extremely loud building work every day but I don’t mind that at all. I never want another winter like the last one where I barely got any sleep for nights on end.

I’m still baiting traps as a precaution as the garden has not yet been dealt with but I don’t envy your daughter. My advice would be to kick up a huge fuss and keep at it.

Good Luck!

Environmental Protection at your Local Authority may help Betty.

We have an empty property next door. Whilst the utter idiots next door continue on their two year project to maintain a full skip outside a house, we reported them to the council. The council have been very helpful, please keep reporting.