thread: Help! The house we are renting has white ants in it! I dont know what top do...

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  1. #1
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2008
    3,132

    Ali

    What an awful thing to have to deal with especially while you have a newborn.

    I think it would be best to encourage DP to talk to the landlord about it - mainly because if you leave it too much longer and don't contact them, it may become evident that you knew there were white ants and failed to inform them leaving you liable for part of the damage. I don't want to put more pressure on you because you sound like you are having a horrible day and it is very stressful.

    Maybe you could talk to your DP about some of your concerns. I don't think you should go behind his back, but I think you don't sound entirely happy about his plan either. I think you need to be happy with whatever you decide to do as well.

    Do you have a friend or family member you can call to come over and help you clear the area or just keep you company for a while? Sometimes being with other people helps to put a bad situation into a better light or at least can take your mind off it for a while.

    I really hope things work out for you and that your day get better.

    Take a few deep breaths, have a drink of water and know that things will work out in the end. You may have some challenges in the next couple of weeks looking for a new house, but things will work out and they will be ok.

    Thinking of you atm.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Middle Victoria
    8,924

    I think it would be best to encourage DP to talk to the landlord about it - mainly because if you leave it too much longer and don't contact them, it may become evident that you knew there were white ants and failed to inform them leaving you liable for part of the damage. I don't want to put more pressure on you because you sound like you are having a horrible day and it is very stressful.
    If it is obvious that you know the damage is there and don't act, allowing the damage to continue then you could be held responsible for the damage that occurs from when you did know.

  3. #3
    smiles4u Guest

    Post

    Like Limeslice mentions ... you are actually responsible as a tenant to tell your landlord of something that is damaging to his/her property

    (I second Kate07 comment there too)

    Oh, i so feel for you ... fingers crossed & i'm thinking of you !!

    Keep US all updated !!! xox

  4. #4

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    Part of the rental contract is that you have to report all damage.
    FWIW if I had a tenant who didn't report termite damage until the house was only good for demolition it would be a cold day in hell before I sold them the land.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    England (but moving back home to Oz next year!)
    78

    You really need to report this to your landlord - asap! As someone mentioned, it would be in your contract to report any damage as soon as you noticed. Also, I think your husbands thinking is disgusting - these people have probably worked really hard to purchase this rental property and he thinks that by causing further damage to the house he will be able to purchase it off them cheaply. I'm glad you are not my tenants!

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2006
    Queensland
    2,039

    Ali,

    I hope that u can get this sorted out quickly and that the damage isn't so bad that the house is unsafe! Hopefully it will be as easy as getting some stations in and you guys won't have to move at all! But if you do then I guess it is lucky u noticed the damage before it got to dangerous and an accident happened.

    We lived in a house that had an absolute nut of an owner who tried to illegally kick us out through the tenancy court thing and it went through and we had to go and get it sorted out and they cancelled the order...the owner and real estate had both lied A LOT to have it happen and luckily we had prrof of that! that was when Noah was a couple of weeks old so to cut a long story short I understand the stress involved!!! Try to keep as relaxed as possible, its important for you and your new family and breastfeeding etc, and know that whatever happens it will be fine!!

    If they do have to break the lease there are requirements that they will have to fulfill which I'm sure will include paying for accomodation if ittakes u a while to find something. I would say though given u have only just found damage that it will be safe to stay there!! Goodluck

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Add C~Q on Facebook

    Oct 2006
    By the sea
    2,191

    Also, I think your husbands thinking is disgusting - these people have probably worked really hard to purchase this rental property and he thinks that by causing further damage to the house he will be able to purchase it off them cheaply. I'm glad you are not my tenants!
    Whoa there Riss!

    Ali has been brave enough to write on here something that her husband thought about but she didn't want to do. She has also put that she spoke to DH and he is going to look at it and call the landlord.

    Sometimes we all think things that we would like to do to make our situations easier (doesn't mean we'll always do it) just not a lot of us have the guts to vocalise it and risk being attacked for something that could be a passing thought.

  8. #8
    Lucy in the sky with diamonds.

    Jan 2005
    Funky Town, Vic
    7,070

    You really need to report this to your landlord - asap! As someone mentioned, it would be in your contract to report any damage as soon as you noticed. Also, I think your husbands thinking is disgusting - these people have probably worked really hard to purchase this rental property and he thinks that by causing further damage to the house he will be able to purchase it off them cheaply. I'm glad you are not my tenants!
    Yeah, back off a bit Riss. I know you are new but we are a little more civilized around here

  9. #9
    Administrator
    Add Rouge on Facebook

    Jun 2003
    Ubiquity
    9,922

    Awww guys, I hate to say it but Riss has only said what I was initially thinking I think thats pretty crappy... sorry but its true! But I see now he's come around so hopefully it was just a short burst of mindlessness I don't think Riss has been in any way offensive, just honest. And I think being a forum you have to expect that from time to time. So lets not pick on the newbie for her honesty