What Are Tenant Rights Regarding Rat Infestation In the UK?

If you're investigating in the UK, you're likely already at your breaking point. Though landlords are supposed to maintain a liveable space up to a certain set of standards, there are times when they fail to follow through on their responsibilities.

When that happens, you're often left not only dealing with the problem (in this case, a rat infestation) but also looking into the options you have to assert your rights as a tenant. Don't let the stress overwhelm you. DoNotPay's Landlord Protection product was created for situations exactly like yours.

Can I Sue My Landlord for a Rat Infestation?

Determining whether to sue your landlord for rat infestation is a serious matter. To , you must be sure that you are not responsible for the infestation. For instance, improper disposal of rubbish may have attracted rats. If this is the case, you are responsible to deal with the problem.

It is the landlord’s responsibility if:

Your tenancy agreement says so. The landlord is responsible for keeping the home in a “good and habitable state”
Your landlord caused the infestation by not making necessary repairs.

Get Your Landlord to Handle the Infestation

As a tenant, you have the right to a reasonable expectation that your landlord will maintain the property up to a certain set of standards. That includes issues related to pest infestations.

The landlord is required by law to repair and maintain the property and remove all hazards. This is their legal duty and you pay for that service with your rent. Thus, when rats or other pests are getting in the property due to any disrepair, it's automatically the landlord's job to repair that area and treat the infestation problem as well.

If your landlord ignores or fails to address your concerns properly, you have a few options you might try.

Talk to the local council.
Contact the Environmental Health Department.
Encourage the authorities to issue your landlord a "mandatory improvement notice"

Where to Find Help for Rat Infestation Concerns as a Tenant
Local Council Support	Find your local council
Environmental Health Department Phone Number	020 7361 3002
Environmental Health Department Email	environmentalhealth@rbkc.gov.uk

If those attempts are unsatisfactory, you do have the option to sue your landlord.

Sue Anyone With DoNotPay

With DoNotPay's convenient Sue Now product, you can quickly and easily allow DoNotPay to generate a demand letter on your behalf. This is a first step, one that will signal to your landlord your willingness to escalate the matter of the rat infestation to court.

Rat Infestations Infringe on Your Rights as a Tenant

Renting a home or flat in the UK comes with certain rights, such as the following:

Your Landlord Must Maintain a Safe Environment

A landlord must ensure that you have running water, heat, and electricity; keep the building in good repair; raise the rent only in compliance with regulations and respond to tenants' concerns and disputes.

Pests Infestation Must Be Eliminated

A rat infestation infringes on your rights as a tenant. A building with rats is unsafe. Rats cause damage, carry disease, and create distress for those forced to live in proximity to an infestation.

Your landlord must be held accountable for not dealing with this matter. Fortunately, you do not have to handle this situation alone. With DoNotPay's Landlord Protection feature, you can take the first moves toward solving this problem right away.

Assert Your Rights as a Tenant With DoNotPay

If you've been dealing with a rat infestation, you have . Even with those rights, however, sometimes it's difficult to know what your next steps should look like. That's exactly why DoNotPay created a series of products and features to help you handle issues like these.

Evictions
Security deposits
Resolving disputes with roommates
Resolving disputes between renters and landlords
Breaking your lease

If your landlord is not dealing with the rat infestation, and you know you need to get out of your lease and find a new place to live, we are here to help. If you want to break a lease in the UK but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 4 easy steps:

Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
Select which issue applies to you.
Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

And that's it! You should hear back from your landlord directly once your demands are sent.

DoNotPay Has What It Takes to Help You

When it comes to navigating sticky situations between tenants and landlords, DoNotPay has what it takes. Check the following links to see how we can help you solve most problems in fast and efficient ways:

In addition, we can help you with issues not directly related to properties or renting. We can help you untangle the Freedom of Information Act, locate missing money, and even handle small claims court. Come check out all we have to offer.