Who is Responsible for Pest Control at a Rental Property?

Who is Responsible for Pest Control at a Rental Property?

Contracts are Key

Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to this question and instead, where the responsibility of pest control lies can be determined on a case by cases basis. Typically, these responsibilities will be outlined in the lease of a property. In single-family home rentals, the responsibility is often put on the resident, while for most apartment complexes and townhomes, the responsibility will typically lie with property management, and, in these cases, they often have ongoing maintenance contracts with local pest control companies. However, even in cases where landlords/property management do not claim responsibility for pest control maintenance, they are still legally required to ensure the dwelling is livable prior to move in. This includes confirming that there are no current pest problems, and that the residence is structurally sound (ie. there are no cracks or openings outdoors, missing windows, etc.).

What Are Your Responsibilities as a Tenant?

Regardless of whatever is written in your lease, as a tenant you still have some general responsibilities when it comes to pest control. This includes:

• Documenting signs of pest activity
• Ensuring the home is reasonably sealed against outdoor pests and taking the proper steps to rectify any noticeable conducive conditions
• Notifying the proper channels if pest control issues arise

If you do come across pest problems, it’s very helpful to find out if your property management already has a contract with a pest control company as this greatly simplifies any subsequent steps for both you and the property management. Usually, it will entail a simple phone call to the contracted company who will add an additional stop at your residence to their route to treat the new or ongoing problem as per their maintenance plan.

Basic Pest Prevention for Tenants

There are many preventative steps can be taken to avoid pest problems in your rental property.  This includes:

• Not leaving out any food or dirty dishes
• Properly disposing of waste in covered receptacles
• Continually removing garbage when full or smelly
• Not letting pet food sit out overnight
• Reducing clutter
• Maintaining a generally clean living space by regularly vacuuming, dusting, disinfecting, etc.
• Ensuring sufficient ventilation in areas that can be humid (for example, open your bathroom window if it gets too steamy)
• Checking for damage or wear in door sweeps or weatherstripping and either repairing or replacing them as needed on your own or by informing your property’s maintenance team.
• You can even try keeping some plants that repel pests around such as citronella, lavender, basil, etc. (For single-family homes, these can be planted around the house whereas in apartments, they can be potted and placed outside your apartment door, on windowsills, balconies, or patios.)

Scheduling Your Own Pest Control

If your lease agreement assigns pest control responsibilities to you, no need to panic. Your local pest experts at Pointe Pest Control have got your back! We specialize in ridding homes of pests and forming a barrier to protect them from any future potential pest invasions. We also utilize a variety of safe, effective, and environmentally friendly products in all our treatments. Call us today for more information on how we can keep your rental home safe from invading pests.