Keeping possessions in the loft can help solve some storage issues, but if you suffer a rodent infestation many of the items can be damaged or ruined altogether. However, examine any home contents insurance policy and you will see that damage caused by rodents is usually one of the exclusions, meaning that you will have to carry the full cost of replacing those items.

There are a number of ways to prevent mice nesting in your home and there are a lot of reasons for doing so, in addition to preventing possible damage to possessions stored in the loft space. House mice are carriers of viruses and various bacteria that could have a serious impact on your health, if they are left to roam your premises unchecked.

Nocturnal creatures, house mice are prolific in their toilet habits, depositing up to 60 droppings in various locations during one night’s foraging and they urinate even more frequently; it is within those waste products that the viral and bacterial threats exist. The most significant viral danger is that of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis. In extreme cases contracting this virus can result in the development of encephalitis or meningo encephalitis within humans, which both cause swelling of the brain and are extremely serious conditions.

House mice can also carry food poisoning bacteria such as Salmonella, which is why the presence of mice in the kitchen is so unhealthy. Because mice rapidly move from place to place and eat and defecate in so many different areas there is much potential for contamination of surfaces and cooking utensils, along with any other items left out on kitchen surfaces.

But, as well as the threat to health, house mice also possess strong, sharp teeth which they put to good use as they flitter around a home. They can pierce an astonishing amount of materials and one of their favourites tends to be electrical wiring. As well as the inconvenience of having to replace the wiring, there is also the danger of fire if wires stripped of insulation by the mice, are crossed and cause sparks.

Because of the health risks and as most home insurance policies do not cover damage inflicted by vermin it is advisable to get rid of mice as soon as you detect them. This can be done by setting poisoned bait in traps which will kill the mice, or by using humane traps that retain the animals in the trap until you can release them away a reasonable distance from your home.

Whichever method used is down to your conscience, but it is vital that you take steps to eliminate house mice as soon as you detect them or risk damaging your health and your bank balance!
Author Resource:- As a property expert, Jennifer Adams writes on a number of topics including house insurance, renovation and mortgages for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.  Jennifer Adams