In the vast majority of instances the responsibility for dealing with pest infestations lies with the tenant of the property affected. As a landlord our responsibility is to the fabric of the property, which means that we have an obligation deal with any disrepair which is contributing to the problem, such as gaps or holes in the wall or floors. If you believe that this is the case then we can arrange for an inspector to attend and assess areas in question and have them filled or repaired as appropriate, however, as stated in your Tenant Handbook, we will not arrange or pay for the removal of any form if infestation e.g. wasps nests, ants, mice.

If you do have a problem with pests traps, sprays and pellets are readily available from supermarkets, DIY stores and the like at minimal cost. Alternatively Fife Council’s Pest Control team charge £55.83 per treatment and can be contacted on 03451 55 00 22 – please note that if you do arrange for the Council to deal with your infestation you will be liable for this full cost.

They say, however, that prevention is better than a cure, so follow the simple precautions below to help to keep your home pest free

• Make sure your home, especially the kitchen, is always clean, by wiping down surfaces and sweeping or vacuuming floors regularly to remove any trace of food
• Store food in sealed containers
• Don’t leave uncovered food out in warm weather as it attracts flies, ants and wasps
• Clear up any water spillages or leaks, as these can encourage pests
• Keep the kitchen bin closed and empty it regularly
• Put rubbish out in properly sealed bags or bins
• If you have a garden or yard, don’t let it become overgrown or dump old furniture, mattresses or other rubbish there, as this provides a good home for mice and rats
• If you feed garden birds, don’t put food out in the evening and always use a bird table rather than just putting bird food on the ground as this can attract rats
• If you have a compost heap, don’t put cooked food on it as, again, this can attract rats