i thought that if your property was clean and free of mice and other pest, and the tenants live there for over a year pest free, that if they got mice they needed to get rid of them, how come the town is trying to hold me responsible, has anyone else had this problem, and what do you do. fight them or take care of the problem --71.178.xxx.x

It's because they have the victim mentality, They are the "99%" and feel entitled to be taken care of because basically they are too lazy and stupid to take care of themselves. Heaven forbid that they should go to the Dollar store and spend $2 for a Pkg of mouse traps .In the victims world only "experts" that other people have to pay for are capable of taking care of the stupid & helpless. victims. --99.151.xx.xx

These inspectors/letter writers get yelled at all day. Be the nicest person they talk to, very cooperative, and it will pay off down the road. --50.129.xxx.xxx

yea, thanks i never thought of that.they sent me a notice that i have 10 days to take precautions to insure that my property is rodent free, i was thinking i had to hire a exterminator, but i guess i can put stuff down, and they cant fine me. they want to fine me 25.00 a day. it makes me so upset because i have given them all new stuff when they have any problem, i dont fix it. i buy new. i thought they would appreciate, guess i just have to learn --71.178.xxx.x

Mice come in from the cold every fall. best thing to do is to put poison in basement and caulk up every small cracks. --74.104.xxx.xxx

Tell them no pets and then evict. --209.68.xxx.xxx

Some tenants are just to dumb to call the landlord even if you take care of other problems,they have been trained to call code enforcement so just put down some poison or traps then let code enforcement know you dealt with it --67.252.xx.xx

My tenants violated several city ordances making the back yard a perfect home for rats and mice, but I got the violation. So I took my local "Health Department and City Building and Safety" departments to court and made them issue specific violations to the tenants. Since I'm a contractor and own code books, I stated the exact chapter and verse. Also, sinces it's against the law for me to fool around with my tenants stuff in the back yard, it's their job to store things correctly -- 18 inches off the ground or in a garage/shed, not on the ground. --173.58.xxx.xxx

In NC, for individual dwellings, the tenant is responsible for pest control- both animal and insects (Spiders are animals, you know). In apartments, the landlord is responsible. Your State may be different. --66.226.xx.xxx

We had a tenant that had a major mouse problem didnt tell me. Of course they didnt, they had turned bad and gotten nasty with food stuff. Moved out with notice 2 weeks early, I came in to 2 week old dead mice on glue traps about 23 of them. Ugh..... --98.94.xx.xxx

The city sent you the letter because you own the property. You can give your tenants XX days to take care of the problem or you can take care of it and send them the bill. When I get letters from the city for abandoned vehicles I send it to the tenant to take care of it. --67.211.xxx.xxx

i really thank all of you for your support,it really helps to talk to people who have been there. the story is, about sept 5th my tenants called and said they seen a mouse, so i told them to buy a trap and once they killed the scout it should stop them, about a week later, they called and said the mice wont eat the cheese or anything they put in the trap, these mice run thru the glue traps and dont get stuck. i thought they were responsible because my lease said they were responsible for nuicense,then they called and said these mice are running into there pots while they are cooking, i find that hard to believe, but i tried to see thier point of view and offed to help them with 50.00 toward extermination, after i hung up the phone with the one tenant the other tenant called and demanded that i get an exterminator and called me a slumlord and threatened to sue me. i said do what you need to do. got off the phone and called my lawyer who said pg county, in a single family home the occupants are responsible. ok good right, it seems the tenants told the that they have a severe infestation and somehow i got a notice property maitenance violation that makes me the bad guy. that property was in emaculate condition when they moved in last october, they are supposed to maitain it. not me. in the meantime my lawyer calls me to tell me she made a mistake, that the law changed and i am responsible.this is so stressful, but your help is keeping me going. the person who said just go put d-con down made me start checking the wording.in the violation notice, the corrective action they listed is--take precautions to ensure that your property is rodent free. as it is a rental property i will need to inspect the yard. so i may not have to hire an exterminator. even when i called several exterminators all they are going to do is put poison down come back and check and then chage me every month to till there are no more mice. they only guarantee for 2 to 3 months. and they want min 160 then 50 a month --71.178.xxx.x

Mice and roaches eat almost anything, They love pet food and sloppy housekeeping. --66.226.xx.xxx

Inspect your unit often when this type tenant complains, close the buffet meaning clean up the pop cans, potato chips and candy bars, while they are cleaning you need to find if any entry ways exist and close them with tin plates. --76.241.xxx.xx

We brought mice into the basement once when we got corn for the animals. Otherwise, if mice are getting in an entrance exists. Look hard, they can be very small. Cover as Virden says. Mice are fussy tenants and won't come and stay unless you feed them. Seal the house, clear the food they have access to, catch/kill them. Usually more shock than trouble. I hate pigsty tenants. --65.189.xxx.xxx

Do what you have to get rid of the mice, either yourself or exterminator. Then get rid of tenants. Of course wait long enough so its not retaliation. --98.94.xx.xxx

Throw some under the house and in the attic. We also put some of the stuff in a void that we found where they had eaten through the wall. Works wonders and it's not very expensive. The mice go die somewhere and they don't smell up the house, either. --24.177.xx.xxx

Throw some under the house and in the attic. We also put some of the stuff in a void that we found where they had eaten through the wall. Works wonders and it's not very expensive. The mice go die somewhere and they don't smell up the house, either. --24.177.xx.xxx

What your T told you about mice not getting stuck in a glue trap is a lie. I had two mice caught in a trap. --184.43.xx.xx

does anyone know the law in pg county about exterminating, do you have to hire or can you do it yourself, the town code inforcer whent by the house, and they sent me a violation for maintenace, called them and they said to comply i have to put wire in the foundation holes that that allows air in crawlspace, replace small crawlspace door, because they think mice may be getting in there, and rerout my washing machine drain pipe to sewer drain. they never said anything about exterminating, they want me to close any entances to the house, --71.178.xxx.x

I don't know the particular law in PG county - code enforcement could probably give you an answer. A wildlife company would probably give you the same advice as above. All holes have to be sealed or you will have the problems year after year. I had to have concrete footers poured to go 22 inches down around the front porch and steps of a rental TH so that critters wouldn't be able to go under (however, they can still go under the adjoining neighbor's THs). Sometimes snakes follow mice and other critters which can present a bigger problem due to tenant's phobias, etc. I would embrace making the place critter proof to the best of your ability and become an expert. It will pay off in the long run. --108.48.xxx.xxx