rental property costs

are these people going to demand assistance to change a lightbulb?  really and truly… a mousetrap is like a dollar or something at the local supermarket.

If it were me:

I would book an appointment to enter the property myself to investigate where the rustling is coming from – and of course ask the tenant lots of questions about it to help me determine it.  It could be anything – a mouse or two – birds having gotten into your roof to make a home in there (in which case the birds would need removal and the roof would need some patching up) or even a possum.  You need to decide what the issue is before calling in the specialists, or you'll spend a bunch of money getting the wrong type of specialist in.  I doubt the realestate agent will get into the roof wearing their nice suit, so leave it to them and they'll call in chargeable pest control people.  Get your overalls on and go on a hunt for signs… mouse droppings, birds nests, gnaw marks, that sort of thing.  From my limited experience with mice, they seem to enjoy being in the roof, the garage, the pantry, and wardrobes.

I'd then provide the tenant with some mousetraps, even set them myself while I'm there, and find a way to get it into conversation that they can be acquired from the supermarket.  Hopefully that will sort the issue out, and the tenant will take some initiative in the future by utilising the mousetraps you provide if and when required.  It might be necessary to suggest some ways to them of collecting the mice after they have died.  It'd probably freak them out to touch the mouse, and they might not even want to remove it from the trap.  In that case, using a broom to sweep it into the dustpan and then shovelling it straight into the bin might be ok with them.  Have the discussion with them.  They may not have had to deal with mice before.  Be amenable to providing more mousetraps in future if they kick up a fuss about the few measly dollars, but are not being insistent on pest control services.  You could suggest they could purchase up to say, 3 traps per month and you'd deduct it from the rent if they show proof of purchase.  Just all different ideas.  You need to scope out your tenant's line of thought to decide which way to go.

While I have not encountered this specific issue, I can't imagine a tenancy tribunal would force you to fumigate the house for one mouse.  Yes if there was an infestation.  Either way, keep a record of your efforts in case you ever have to justify yourself.