Pest Control
Pest control falls under the general responsibility of both landlords and tenants. So, what is it that you are responsible for exactly?
Pests can include, but are not limited to the following:
- Ants & white ants
- Spiders
- Rats and mice (vermin)
- Bees and wasps
- Snakes
- Cockroaches
- Fleas
- Maggots
- Termites
What is the tenant responsible for?
Tenants are responsible for unwanted pests, where an infestation can or has occurred due to their actions, generally being the cleanliness and hygiene of the property. Not emptying rubbish and leaving food and drink out are just two examples of what could cause an infestation of ants or maggots. The tenant must clear cobwebs, use mouse traps if needed and/or use sprays where required. This will then be the responsibility of the tenant to clean up and ensure it does not happen again by taking the correct steps for prevention.
What is the owner responsible for?
Generally, owners are responsible for pest and vermin control including wasps, mice, or termites (along with other pests). These outbreaks can occur before or during the tenant’s occupancy, and whilst the tenant may try to get the issue under control with store bought solutions (e.g.mouse traps), sometimes these items do not quite fix the problem.
An example of this is where a termite or mouse infestation has occurred due to water leaks caused by either the weather or the property being an older home, or if it is breeding season for the mice. This is not something the tenant has caused because of their actions and would therefore come under the owner’s responsibility. The owner is also responsible for upkeep and maintenance to prevent these outbreaks such as an annual termite inspection for the property.
If you are unsure as to whether it is your responsibility, or simply do not know how you should approach a pest problem, it is best to contact your Property Manager and discuss with them the right course of action.
As always, we are here to assist you with any queries whether you are an owner or a tenant. Please feel free to call the Property Management Team on 08 6144 0700 anytime.