Tenant claims rent still being demanded despite rodent plague causing family to fall ill

A Queensland woman who broke her lease after a mouse invasion caused her whole family to get sick says her real estate agent is still demanding rent.

A woman who broke her lease after claiming a mouse invasion caused her whole family to get sick says her real estate agent is still demanding rent.

Harlyn Paislee moved into a Norman Gardens home in Rockhampton in Central Queensland more than eight months ago.

Upon arrival Ms Paislee said she noticed a big hole underneath the sink which she reported to the real estate agent but was unsure what caused it at the time.

In March, she realised rodents were nesting there and in the roof.

Holes created by rodents that invaded Harlyn Paislee's house. Picture: Supplied

The problem evolved into an awful stench, hearing mice and rats in the roof, rodents chewing through clothes, cords, furniture, mattresses and towels and then finding dead rodents in cushions.

“We started to have mouse poo and urine on everything,” Ms Paislee said.

“There was heavy urine on the stove tops, on the dishwasher, on plates, pans, closed packets of food.

“We ended up getting sick, the house stunk, and we were breathing it in.”

She claims she reported the problem three times to her property manager and then earlier this month engaged a pest control service.

A report by the service, seen by the Courier Mail, said there was “heavy rodent activity noted at the time of the inspection – house has a significant mice problem.”

Rodents chew through drawers at Harlyn Paislee's house. Picture: Supplied

What horrified Ms Paislee and ultimately was the decision for her to leave, was her children falling ill with vomiting and diarrhoea.

“Somewhere along the lines it got in our food and we basically ate rat poo,” she said.

“At the end of the day, it wasn’t viable for us to live in the house.

“I was cleaning in bleach everyday, after a while enough is enough, you get sick of cleaning.”

Ms Paislee said she tried negotiating with the real estate agent but was unable to come to an agreement.

She has since opened up a case with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and received advice from the Residential Tenancies Authority after she claims the realtor asked for extra fees and the rent to be paid until they found someone else.

“It’s unfair, you hear about tenants damaging properties but when the shoes on the other foot, where is the real estate agent?” she said.

Urine from rodents that invaded Harlyn Paislee's house. Picture: Supplied

“With the way the market is at the moment, it’s unfair and unjustified.

“Everyday I’m getting charged for rent while no one is sitting in the house.”

At the end Ms Paislee even brought in cleaners to do the end of lease clean.

Moonshiners Cleaning and Maintenance Services cleaner Mark Jarvis said there was a significant mouse problem.

“There was mouse poo everywhere,” he said.

“Especially in the kitchen area, when you opened the bottom drawers which had very chewed up paper.”

Holes at Ms Paislee’s house. Picture: Supplied

An RTA spokesman said the property manager was responsible for ensuring the property complies with health and safety laws.

“The tenant must keep the premises and inclusions clean during the tenancy,” he said.

“The tenant is responsible for notifying the property manager/owner as soon as possible if there is a health and safety issue during the tenancy or if repairs need to be made.

“If a vermin infestation is a result of the rental property not being in good repair, it may fall under the property manager/owner’s responsibility to address.

“If the property was free of vermin at the start of the tenancy, the tenant must ensure the property meets the same standard at the end of the tenancy and may fall under a tenant’s responsibility.”

The real estate agent has been contacted for comment.