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Quite frankly, no. If, I had mice I would set traps and have the neighbors do the same. It is not the responsibility of the association to capture mice. If the mice are there as a result of an opening in the building where they are getting in, then by all means this should be addressed by the association, provided that is in your bylaws. Some associations have more responsibility on the individual homeowners and others more on the association, check the bylaws.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Mice are a homeowner issue, but an HOA issue. What they pay for should be clearly outlined in the written bylaws, and I doubt you will find rodents listed. If they all have them, it usually means that they started in one unit and went uncontrolled, and spread to the others. Since they could do damage to wiring and mechanical systems, I would suggest that the various owners (including your landlord) get together and try for a good package deal with an exterminator.
Mice don't hibernate. Your LL has no idea what he's talking about.
Quote:
When the temperatures outside begin to drop, house mice, since they don’t hibernate, begin searching for a warmer place to live. Often attracted by the smell of food and the warmth of a structure, the house mouse can use any opening, such as utility lines, pipe openings, and gaps beneath doors, to gain entry into a home.
Do you have basements or garages? If you have a garage make sure you keep the door shut. The only place we have ever had mice is in the garage & basement - the kids leave the door open when they get home from school sometimes and we back up to a field. The basement b/c we had construction going on and the contractor kept the bilco doors open so he & his crew didn't have to walk through the house to get to the basement.
Sounds like your LLs responsibility since he owns the place. He should deal with the HOA if he thinks it's their issue, not you.
Tell him you want him to set traps for you. We just did this for one group of tenants about a week ago (in a 4 unit property, and no one else complained about seeing mice). Set traps in the pantry, where it had chewed open a bag of rice, a box of cereal and something else that had been left on the floor. Caught nothing after the girls moved all food stuffs off the floor and on to the shelves. Also set traps in the basement - nothing.
If your LL refuses to help buy your own traps. They aren't that expensive and you can argue the point about who should pay for the traps after you get rid of the problem.
Mice don't really hibernate. What the DO do is come in warm homes in the winter. Where's your landlord been?
As suggested, check the bylaws. Since you are a tenant, even if you don't have a copy, you can get them online or at the HOA office, where you can usually read them there rather than pay for a copy.
Depending on the area and how bad, you could consider the health dept.
What do your neighbors say? How were they let over run the townhomes? I think most people know what to do when they see even one mouse.
What do your home owner neighbors know about what they are responsible for and not responsible for? Whether condo for of ownership or not....that is, the inside it yours to maintain...the outside holes could be sealed once the mice are out. BUT in some areas there's a requirement about bug spraying in and around multi family attached units, whether condo or fee simiple. I know a community where it's on the list of events. Yeah, not much happening when that makes the list of events. But it is done at least 4 times a year regularly so they have no varmints of any kind.
If 4 connecting townhome units all have mice shouldn't the Association help with it?
How many other townhomes in the development have mice... connecting or otherwise?
Is there any reason to suspect a defect in construction is responsible?
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