Mom reveals telltale signs after being tricked into buying a rat-infested house
A PREGNANT mother has revealed how she was left devastated after her family was tricked into buying a rat-infested house.
Sarah Arthurwears even explained that she had an extensive survey carried out which showed no signs of pests in the house.
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Sarah started looking at houses when she and her partner were planning to have a third child and came across one that seemed suitable.
She realized it needed some work, but “nothing urgent,” and the couple thought the house was habitable because someone was living there at the time.
Going on her TikTok And blog pages, Sarah has now shared her story to encourage others to be more vigilant when buying a property.
The mother revealed that it was a deceased estate and the children of the deceased elderly couple sold it.
Sarah adds: ‘One of the children, a man much older than me, still lived there. So we assumed it was fine to live there.”
Sarah had a full and comprehensive survey of the house carried out, and the “only potential concern was that the surveyor could not fully inspect the loft due to a sign indicating it was not safe.”
She continues: “He managed to raise his head and saw some droppings, which indicates we should ask about it.
“The sellers responded that a few years ago a squirrel had gotten into the coop through the eaves.
“The hole was closed, the squirrel removed and there were no further problems.”
“Sales progressed steadily but towards the end the sellers folded and we missed the stamp duty holiday.
‘As a result, we ended up paying thousands of euros more than we had intended.
“We eventually completed the purchase and moved in. I was six weeks pregnant at the time.”
But within the first three days of moving in, Sarah started noticing a strange odor, which she could only describe as “charcoal.”
She explained: “The smell seemed to get stronger but my husband insisted it was because I was pregnant. I also started noticing other unpleasant odors in the house.
“There was a cupboard in the kitchen that contained the water heater, and when you opened the door, the musty, musky smell was nauseating. It was horrible, so my husband agreed to call a pest control company just to be sure.”
That night we heard rats in our bedroom wall scratching furiously as if they were trying to break out
Sarah Arthurwears
“Within five minutes of the pest controller’s arrival and a quick inspection, he confirmed that we were not only dealing with a historic rat infestation, but also a current infestation involving live and rotting rats and numerous droppings.”
Revealing on her blog, Sarah explained that the expert checked the perimeter of the house for entry holes and concluded that the rats entered through a drain rather than a hole above ground.
A home survey determines the condition of a home
A SURVEY provides a detailed insight into the condition of a property, highlighting any major repair work.
It can also help you decide whether or not you are paying the right amount for your home.
The reports are carried out by qualified appraisers and costs vary from company to company. There are also different types of surveys depending on the depth of the report you want and your budget.
These are the different types of surveys and their typical prices, according to the Homeowners Alliance:
Condition report, £300 or more
This produces a traffic light report to indicate the various conditions of the property – green for OK, orange for cause for concern.
The report gives you an overview of the defects and possible risks, but does not provide advice or valuation.
Home buyers report £450 or more
On top of everything you get in the condition report, you will also get an appraisal and insurance repair value. This is an estimate of how much you would receive if the building burned down.
Inquiry into the condition of the house, £400 to £900
These are carried out by the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) rather than the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and include information on broadband speeds, a damp assessment and boundary issues to consider. The price depends on the value of the home.
Architectural research, €500 or more
These are extensive reports in which the surveyor goes into the attic, looks behind walls and between floors and above ceilings. It also provides advice on repairs, estimated costs and timing, and what will happen if you don’t make the repairs. Prices depend on the size of the property.
They were advised to have a full drain survey carried out to locate the entry points.
She continued: “He put down some more rat poison, but made it clear that this would be an ongoing problem unless we found the entry points.
“He also advised us to try and obtain the reports from the previous pest control company the sellers used to find out exactly what had been done and where the hole was that had been sealed.
“He made an appointment to come back in a few days and put a different type of liquid poison in the cage after the entrances were sealed.
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“That night we heard rats in our bedroom wall scratching furiously as if they were trying to break out.”
Fast forward to now, with a lot of work and expenses of over £2,000, the family has managed to eradicate the problem and rat-proof the house.
Sarah explains: “We have taken extensive measures to ensure the house is now rodent proof.
“Such as: a complete drain survey and drain repairs, one-way drain valves installed, all entry points filled, water tank and water heater moved from the attic/kitchen to the garage, complete decontamination and re-insulation of the attic, new reinforced toilet drain lines and removal of obtrusive foliage around the house. “
Who is eligible for the First Home Scheme?
ONLY first time buyers can buy a home under the First Home scheme and this is not available in Wales or Scotland.
As the scheme is designed to help lower income buyers get onto the property ladder, you are not eligible if your combined household income is more than £80,000, or £90,000 if you live in London.
Those who can afford to buy one of the homes without a mortgage will not qualify for the assistance.
Buyers must use a mortgage for at least 50% of the price of the discounted home.
However, further conditions may be imposed by local councils so eligibility criteria may vary depending on where you wish to purchase.
For example, some authorities may give key employees the first reward.
But after the first three months that the homes are on sale, the municipality’s additional conditions will be removed for any First Homes that have not yet been sold or reserved.
