Should you be able to see into floor on second floor from the airing cupboard? (Rodent Problem)

[RifRaf]

Good evening,

I have just moved into a new flat on the second floor of a house. In inspecting the new property I noticed the pipes inside the boiling/airing cupboard lead directly into the floor with no cover around them (other than the cupboard itself, which of course is not airtight).

I generally wouldn't question this, but there are rodent droppings at the bottom of the floor and around the pipes and the cupboard ledge. There are two very large gaps on the exterior of the property, which I intend to chase the landlord about, one of which appears to be a pipe removed and another pipe with gaps around that lead directly into the floor of my room, close to the boiler.

I've generally only seen pipes covered by the floor in airing cupboard, but I think this could be for aesthetic reasons, nonetheless this seems like an ideal way for rodents to have direct access to my room. This is my ensuite shower on the second floor of a house for reference (picture attached).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[big-all]

cant actually see any droppings in your picture ??

 

[RifRaf]

cant actually see any droppings in your picture ??

Hello,

If you look closely you can actually see one at the ledge, but here are some others I have found and the hole for reference.

I understand this may pedantic, unfortunately I have experience with this before where it escalated very quickly so just want to be proactive in resolving it

 

[Elsa TLC]

Is it a new construction?

 

[RrogerD]

Fill it with expanding foam

 

[big-all]

rats or rodents = tens off dozens off droppings everywhere
and greasy "rat runs" you have neither

 

[RifRaf]

Is it a new construction?

No, it is a very old building. So I completely understand that these things happen. Just would prefer not to roll out the red carpet haha

 

[RifRaf]

rats or rodents = tens off dozens off droppings everywhere
and greasy "rat runs" you have neither

I completely understand. I used to think the same, until I saw a rodent with my bare bald eyes chilling in my kitchen. All the droppings were behind the skirting board. Only after another month did he start to become noisy and chew things, and leave droppings in the open (he was incredibly smart, avoided all poison and traps set by pest control until finally a glue board caught him ). I do appreciate the response, I will shelf the hysteria, and take general precautions until there is actually an issue. Hopefully he was just passing by.

 

[Elsa TLC]

Wire wool and fire resistant expanding foam.

Toped off with wire mesh