Who is responsible for pest control when renting? Is it the Landlord or the tenant? Usually, the tenants can be accountable for pest control, especially within their units. However, if the pest infestation is widespread on the property, the Landlord may need to take action to ensure the tenants live in a pest-free environment.
Pest control involves extermination or prevention of pests. This is done to ensure a conducive living environment. Common pests in rentals include rats, cockroaches, lice, and bedbugs. These pests may spread diseases, contaminate food, cause discomfort, or destroy property. Therefore, while most victims of pest infestations are the tenants, the landlords can become victims, too, especially when the pests destroy the property.
Factors to Consider to Determine Who Is Responsible for Pest Control
1. Legal
According to the landlord-tenant bill, it is the responsibility of the Landlord to prevent or exterminate pests on their premises. This ensures that the environment is pest-free and habitable. In case pests infestation, the public health officials may provide the Landlord with a grace period to mitigate the health hazard. Upon expiry of this period, if the Landlord does not comply, the premises be approved for renting out until the landlord complies.
Notably, based on the legal pest control requirements, a tenant may sue a landlord if the he does not respond promptly to complaints of pest infestation. This may come with the Landlord having to compensate the tenant for any loss. According to the laws, a landlord has the right to include a service fee for such services as pest control. Depending on different jurisdictions, a landlord may only be liable to control pests in familiar places, like corridors and washrooms. For hotels and restaurants, the law requires that the owner, who is the tenant, thoroughly inspects their food for pests and ensures proper waste disposal.
2. Lease agreements
Landlords will have tenants sign and commit to rent and lease agreements to avoid friction with tenants. The rent and lease agreement has to align with the country’s constitution. In such contracts, clauses on pest control will be included, and they will outline duties to be played by each party.
The roles of the tenant may consist of proper waste disposal, reporting pest issues in time, and cooperation with pest control teams. In some cases, there could be cost sharing depending on the type of premises. For apartments, duplexes, and studios, the case will differ from that of a single house with its compound.
3. Common goodwill
Despite the existence of laws, human beings, being social, can choose to craft their own non-formal rules for mutual benefit. A tenant and a landlord may have a relationship that is not documented on paper. In such a case, both will be indifferent to whoever does it.
Some pests, like bedbugs, may be complex to handle. Goodwill dictates that as the Landlord does the best to control pests, the tenant will also prevent pests from private and personal items like clothes and bedding.
Conclusion
The most significant responsibility lies with the Landlord in controlling pests. However, the tenants also have a role to play in ensuring they keep the property clean and report any cases of pest infestation for timely mitigation before they spread.
Therefore, in case you are a landlord or a tenant in a rented property, you can contact us for advise on how to eradicate and prevent pests from rented properties.
