Quick answer
To get rid of mice in a flat, seal food away, clean under appliances, block gaps around pipes and under doors, and place a deterrent along routes in your kitchen. Because mice travel between flats through shared walls, risers and communal areas, report the problem to your landlord or managing agent in writing so the whole building can be treated.
Mice are a common problem in UK flats, especially in older converted houses and large blocks. You can keep your own flat clean and tidy and still get mice, because they move through the building. Here's what you can do yourself, and how to get the building involved.
Why flats get mice
Flats share walls, floors, pipe risers, bin stores and communal corridors. Mice use these to travel between homes. A problem in one flat, the bin store or a ground-floor shop can quickly spread.
Converted Victorian houses often have voids under floors and around chimney breasts that connect flats.
- Shared pipe and cable risers
- Gaps around radiator pipes and under kitchen units
- Communal bin stores
- Ground-floor shops or restaurants
- Gaps under front doors from corridors
Signs of mice in a flat
Look for droppings in kitchen cupboards, behind the fridge and cooker, under the sink and along skirting boards. You may hear scratching in walls or ceilings at night.
What you can do in your own flat
Make your flat the least attractive one in the building.
- Seal all dry food and pet food in hard containers
- Clean under the cooker, fridge and plinth
- Take rubbish out daily
- Fill gaps around pipes under the sink with wire wool and sealant
- Fit a brush strip to the front door
- Place a deterrent under the plinth and behind appliances
Using a deterrent in a flat
Because flats share routes with neighbours, deterring mice along the edges of your kitchen and near pipe entries helps encourage them away from your flat. MintGuard peppermint balls need no power and fit neatly under the kitchen plinth and behind appliances. Each placement lasts around 30 to 60 days. Follow the pack instructions and keep out of reach of children and pets.
Involving your landlord or managing agent
Report mice in writing (email is fine) with dates and photos. Ask whether other residents have reported problems and whether the building, including communal areas and bin stores, will be treated.
Responsibility depends on your tenancy or lease and the cause. Many landlords have duties around keeping homes fit to live in. If you're unsure, contact your local council or a housing advice service.
| Who | Typically responsible for |
|---|---|
| You | Keeping your flat clean, food storage, reporting quickly |
| Landlord | Repairs to the structure and gaps; often pest control if caused by disrepair |
| Managing agent / freeholder | Communal areas, bin stores, building-wide treatment |
| Council | Advice, and sometimes enforcement if a home is unfit |
When to call a professional
For flats, building-wide treatment by a pest controller is often the only lasting solution, because treating one flat alone can push mice next door. Encourage your landlord or managing agent to arrange it.
Common questions
Why do I have mice in my flat when it's clean?
Mice travel between flats through shared walls, risers and communal areas, so even clean flats can get them.
Is my landlord responsible for mice?
It depends on your tenancy and the cause. Landlords are often responsible where mice get in through disrepair. Report in writing and seek advice from your council if needed.
How do I stop mice coming from next door?
Seal gaps around pipes and under units, store food securely, place deterrents along routes and ask for building-wide treatment.
Can I seal holes in a rented flat?
Check with your landlord first. Small gaps under the sink are often fine, but structural work is usually their responsibility.
Will treating my flat alone work?
It helps, but mice may return from neighbouring flats. Building-wide treatment is more effective.
Looking for a product? See our mouse repellent page.
Sources and further reading
Written by the MintGuard UK team
Researched from trusted UK sources and checked under our editorial policy. Last reviewed 26 October 2026.
