Who is Responsible for Pest Control in Rental Properties?

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When you decide to rent a property, the location and condition of the property are not the only things you need to check before moving in.

There are several things you need to examine in the house before you decide to move in.

One of those important things on your checklist should be pest control. Living with pests is nothing less than a nightmare. Not only do these pests ruin your walls, roofs, and furniture, but they can also be a great threat to your health.

Before signing the lease, it is important to know whether the tenant or the landlord is responsible for pest and mice control London. So, what is the answer to this question? Let's find out!

Common Kinds of Pest in Rental Properties

Pests do not only mean bed bugs, fleas, or rats. You could be dealing with several pests that you are probably not aware of. These pests can be in the form of small animals or microorganisms that you can't even see.

Therefore it is important to learn what pests you could come across in a rental property.  So, before you hire a rat exterminator London, here are the common kinds of pests you can find in a house:

  • Bed bugs
  • Fleas
  • Possums
  • Rats
  • Mice
  • Cockroaches
  • Ants
  • Moths
  • Spiders
  • Squirrels
  • Silverfish
  • Waps
  • Pigeons
  • Flies
  • Mosquitoes

Most pest infestations can be recognized due to their strange odour, eggs, and nests. However, you can also run other thorough tests to check if the house is pest-free.

How Can Pests Affect the Life of Tenants?

Pests can cause major discomfort in the life of tenants. Thes nasty creatures can contaminate food and other corners of the house. A pest infestation can disturb the life of tenants in these ways:

  • Pests can spread dangerous diseases and infections that can sometimes be fatal.
  • They can damage food, furniture, pipes, and roofs of the house.
  • A bird infestation can also damage your car and solar panels.
  • Pests can affect the overall quality of life of the tenants.
  • They can make your house look dirty and unhygienic.
  • Pests can spread a strange odour that can trigger migraines and respiratory problems.
  • Rodents can damage the pipelines and electrical wiring of the house.

Who is Responsible for Pest Control: Landlords or Tenants?

In general, pest or mice control London is the responsibility of the landlord. They have to make sure the property is completely pest-free at the time of renting. It is necessary to get fumigation done right before a new tenant applies for the lease.

However, in some cases, a landlord provides a pest-free house, but the unhygienic living conditions of the tenants can invite several pests to the house. In this case, the landlord is not responsible for financing a pest or rat exterminator London. This detail should be mentioned in the pest control contract given when signing the papers.

Sometimes both the landlord and tenants are not responsible for the pest infestation, making things a bit tricky. In this case, either the landlord pays for the pest and mice control London services, or both can split the bill in half. Therefore, it is important to have an elaborate pest control contract to avoid such incidents.

Pest Control Contract

A landlord can create a detailed contract outlining all the pest-related problems, and both parties will deal with them. For example, if a landlord has provided a pest-free house and a tenant has pests along with their furniture, they are responsible for financing the mice control London or other extermination treatments.

It needs to be mentioned in the legal papers. Otherwise, the landlord will be held responsible for hiring a rat exterminator London. This clause is added in most rental property agreements. It helps both landlord and tenants and landlord understand their duties towards the house.

How to Prevent Pest Infestation in a Rental Property?

Keeping a rental property pest-free can be challenging as families with different mindsets about hygiene can live in that house. However, there are still a few tips and tricks you can follow as a tenant or a landlord to keep the property pest-free. Here's what you can do:

Educating the Tenants About Pest Control

It is important to educate your tenants about pest control in the house. A landlord can provide the tenants with a list of common house pests, what attracts them, and how to avoid them. This small effort can keep the house pest-free in the long run.

Hire Professional Pest Control Services

Schedule an annual visit to pest control services, especially if the house is at a location where there is a large snake, pigeon, or rat population. Whether the landlord will pay for a rat exterminator London alone or split the bill with the tenant can be mentioned in the lease agreement.

Do Not Allow Infected Furniture or Clothes in the House

Allowing infected furniture or clothing items inside the house can start a major pest infestation. Make sure to inspect what furniture is going inside your house. Pest infestation caused by infected furniture is mostly the responsibility of a tenant.

Prioritizing Cleaning Every Corner

Keeping every corner of the house clean is the best way to eliminate pests. Since they require a dark and damp environment to grow, a dirty house can be an ideal breeding ground for pests.

Eliminate All Pest Feeding Sources

When the pests have no source to feed themselves, they will eventually die or leave the place. So hide every food source before going to sleep to ensure cockroaches, rats, or other pests are not getting enough food from your house.

Conclusion

The landlord is responsible for the basic upkeep of the place, including hiring a pest and rat exterminator London, before a tenant moves in. However, once a tenant moves in and brings any pests along with their furniture, it is either the tenant's responsibility to pay for pest control or split the treatment bill in half with the landlord.

Examining your furniture thoroughly for pests is the best practice before moving places. Additionally, inspecting the rental property before moving in is also crucial. Finally, make sure to go through the rental agreement thoroughly to avoid any problems regarding mice control London in the future.

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