Dealing with mice - what do you do?

Dealing with mice - what do you do?

Rental Property Investor · Peabody, MA · Member since 2019 · 55 posts · 19 votes

Hi everyone!

I’ve been owning my first multi family for just over a year now. My girlfriend and I live in the upstairs unit and we have a tenant in the downstairs unit paying rent.

Throughout their tenancy I’ve received complaints regarding mice. Speaking with neighbors, this is a common problem in our area. Upon inspection of my tenants apartment it’s obvious why the mice like it there. Common clutter and food is in easy to reach spots for mice. I’ve spoken with her about this, but old habits die hard as they say. I’ve attempted to seal the perimeter of the house and given her traps to put down, but the problem persists.

So, I decided enough is enough, I’ll hire an exterminator. I’ve called a couple places for quotes and was a little surprised after receiving our first quote. $3850.00!!! It does come with a one year guarantee and the option to buy annual warranties for relatively cheap.

My question is what do you do when mice or rats are in your units? Do you bite the bullet and pay a professional or are there other strategies that you use?

Thanks for your responses!

Tim

1Reply
216 views

Most Popular Reply

Jonathan StyerBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Columbus, OH · Member since 2018 · 330 posts · 396 votes
5y

If you've sealed up any mouse hole entrances with steel wool and spray foam, laid down traps then its time to tell the tenant in writing that if they don't stop leaving out snacks for the mice they'll be asked to leave. 4 grand is crazy, you're problem is the tenant. 

Styer Real Estate Professionals4.941 Reviews
See this reply in the discussion

53 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Rental Property Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2020 · 50 posts · 41 votes
    5y

    @Tim Richter, seal the perimeter, Give the tenant metal storage boxes for food, sticky traps. Poison bait. Keep some outdoor cats who’s only source of food and water is your mice. Mice and roaches need water to survive. Eliminate water sources. Mice and rats have very poor vision and follow walls to find their way. Put the stick traps along edges and back of food storage areas. Seriously, they may be entering your building for water.

  • Real Estate Agent · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 846 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Tim Richter:

    Hi everyone!

    I’ve been owning my first multi family for just over a year now. My girlfriend and I live in the upstairs unit and we have a tenant in the downstairs unit paying rent.

    Throughout their tenancy I’ve received complaints regarding mice. Speaking with neighbors, this is a common problem in our area. Upon inspection of my tenants apartment it’s obvious why the mice like it there. Common clutter and food is in easy to reach spots for mice. I’ve spoken with her about this, but old habits die hard as they say. I’ve attempted to seal the perimeter of the house and given her traps to put down, but the problem persists.

    So, I decided enough is enough, I’ll hire an exterminator. I’ve called a couple places for quotes and was a little surprised after receiving our first quote. $3850.00!!! It does come with a one year guarantee and the option to buy annual warranties for relatively cheap.

    My question is what do you do when mice or rats are in your units? Do you bite the bullet and pay a professional or are there other strategies that you use?

    Thanks for your responses!

    Tim

     Your lease should have provisions for the tenant keeping the place clean generally. 

    Id hold them accountable for that as other have suggested. Also get pictures of the filth because next you can tell them that you will send an exterminator but they will be financially responsible for it. 

    If you don't want to go that route you can likely buy some exterior poison bait stations an shave a handyman place them around the property. However if the tenants aren't cleaning up the bait stations won't work. 

    I don't know your area but that quote seems really high? What are they doing as part of that?

  • Bridgeville, PA · Member since 2013 · 395 posts · 105 votes
    5y

    Honestly there isn't much that can be done with mice, I have them at my house all the time. Mouse trap and peanut butter or if you don't want to hurt the mice you can buy traps on amazon that capture them and you can let them free (My daughter made me start doing that LOL)

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.