pretty sure you meant compost..ok - that would deal with rats... and the fireplace?   you would seal them up then to not suck warm air out of room up the chimney and to make sure they weren't used..yes? 
 but still how can you ask for that money twice?
  you didn't charge them before...and it's like the stores charging for paper bags all of a sudden when there was little choice.  it seems opportunistic and somewhat predatory.