Who is the owner of the house – me or the mice? - briefly
You hold legal title to the property, so you are the owner; the mice are unauthorized occupants without ownership rights.
Who is the owner of the house – me or the mice? - in detail
Ownership of a dwelling is established through legal documentation and exclusive control. A deed, mortgage agreement, or tax record that names a person as the proprietor confers title. This title grants the right to exclude others, to transfer the property, and to enforce obligations such as maintenance and tax payments.
Rodents, regardless of their presence, lack legal capacity to hold title. Their occupation is classified as trespass under property law. The homeowner bears responsibility for preventing and eliminating infestations, as health regulations assign liability for sanitary conditions to the property holder.
Key criteria that determine the rightful owner:
- Written evidence of title (deed, mortgage, tax assessment).
- Continuous exclusive possession and control of the premises.
- Ability to transfer the interest to another party.
- Legal recognition by governmental authorities.
Factors indicating non‑ownership by the animals:
- No legal personality to acquire rights.
- Presence results from opportunistic entry, not from a contractual or statutory grant.
- Courts consistently rule that pests are subjects of removal, not of ownership.
Consequently, the human occupant who holds the title and exercises exclusive control retains full ownership, while the mice remain unlawful occupants subject to removal.