Pest Control:
Tenant or Landlord Responsibility?
While living in your own home, the control of pest issues is certainly your responsibility. On the other hand, many tenants are not sure if pest issues in their rentals are supposed to be handled by them, the property owner or its management.
However, the clarity of this uncertainty can be sought from rental agreements and the relevant laws.
What Is in A Lease Agreement?
If you are a resident of New York, the property manager or the owner of the house that you are staying in ought to have performed pest control before you moved in.
If your rental agreement requires the manager or the landlord to continue to take care of pest concerns even after your moving in, then costs related to pest control should not bother you as it is highly possible that they are incorporated in the rental cost that you pay.
Nevertheless, the responsibility of a landlord or property manager is limited to a certain scope and so, any other services that you may need beyond that as a tenant will be your burden.
However, in some cases, pest management treatments become the responsibility of tenants from the time they move into their rented properties as required by their lease agreements, but of course to certain extents.
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“If you are a resident of New York, the property manager or the owner of the house that you are staying in ought to have performed pest control before you moved in.”
Control Exterminating
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Integrated Pest Management
Landlords in New York are obliged by law to offer their tenants with a residential environment that is free from pests. According to New York State Department of Health, landlords are advised to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) for pest management in their properties in place of overreliance on pesticide use as the only method for pest eradication.
IPM comprises various eco-friendly pest control techniques with the minimal use of pesticides which is limited to particular circumstances. Pest problem treatment, monitoring, inspection, and prevention are the major measures that landlords are supposed to implement under IPM when a need arises.
By going this way instead of using pesticides exclusively, landlords can manage pests in a pocket-friendly manner which is also safe for people, the environment as well as their properties.
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Related Article:
Integrated Pest Management: Definition & Benefits of IPM
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Landlord’s Responsibility
Between a landlord and a tenant, the former has a larger share of pest control responsibilities as compared to the latter. The control of pest issues occurring as a result of natural situations like the proximity of a property to woodland is the work of the landlord, and so is the financial responsibility for the services.
For instance, if your house has a rat infestation due to its nearness to a grassland, then your landlord ought to get a way of bringing a pest control professional to exterminate the rodents. Other natural pest issues that your landlord might be required to take care of and pay for their respective solutions include termite, spider, wasp, rat, bed bug and cockroach infestations.
The majority of landlords organizes for regular and immediate pest control measures and may not ask their tenants to pay for the services. However, in some cases, you as a tenant may be asked to contribute a few bucks for the job and there is nothing wrong with that.
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“Between a landlord and a tenant, the former has a larger share of pest control responsibilities as compared to the latter.”
Control Exterminating
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Tenant’s Responsibility
A tenant is supposed to bear the financial burden of a pest infestation issue which occurrence can be associated with his or her behavior. For instance, if you as a tenant fails to keep your home clean and as a result pests like cockroaches and flies get their way in, then it is your responsibility to arrange on how the pests will be eliminated, and you should pay for the required pest control services. If fleas have come to your rented home because of your pet, costs that will be incurred to get rid of the pests should be up to you.
Hopefully, you’ll now be able to draw a line between the responsibilities of a landlord and those of tenant as far as pest control is concerned. Do your part of having or providing a pest-free home.***
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