My Rental Home Has Bugs—What Do I Do?
Unfortunately, bug problems are common for renters. Simple lifestyle choices can significantly increase or decrease your likelihood of getting a bug infestation—which means whoever rented your apartment or house before you had some say in your current situation! If bugs have started moving into your rental property, here are some things you can do to take care of the issue as soon as possible.
Check Your State’s Housing Laws
Most states have regulations concerning bug problems and rental properties! Sometimes these regulations will require your landlord to maintain a healthy environment in the homes they rent out to people—which also means keeping the homes free of pests. If you check with the local housing authority in your county, you should be able to figure out if pest control is required by your landlord. There are, unfortunately, some situations that can nullify your landlord’s responsibility in the situation.
Next, Check Your Lease
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in your particular state’s housing laws, check your lease next. It should clearly state under provisions what your landlord is and is not responsible for, and anything that you specifically are responsible for during your lease term. It should state who’s responsible for pest problems.
If you confirm that pest control treatments are your responsibility, then you must get the job done yourself. The landlord may also be able to refuse to pay if the problem is linked back to tenant behaviors, as mentioned above. For example, if you’re leaving food out or have crumbs and food mess in your kitchen, you would be responsible for taking care of any pest problems that could arise from that. The same would go for a flea infestation if you own pets.
Tell Your Landlord
You should tell your landlord what’s going on as soon as you notice because most landlords will handle the problem—they know it impacts their property and its value. Many apartment complexes have bi-monthly or monthly pest control treatments done already. If that’s the case where you’re renting, the pest control company should make a special trip to handle the problem right away.
Use whatever contact is best for your landlord, and be sure to give them lots of details—when you first noticed the bugs, how many there seem to be, where they’re coming from, etc. Also, let your landlord know what you’ve already tried to get rid of them. Be persistent in contacting them, but also be sure to send them something in writing—even if it’s just a text—to have for your records in case other problems arise.
Hire Pest Control Yourself
After you’ve done all you can and your landlord still won’t handle the problem, the best thing you can do for you is to take care of it yourself—otherwise, the problem will most likely keep getting worse. It might not be the outcome you were hoping for, but it’s better than living with the bugs. Living with an infestation can impact your health, quality of life, and your home or personal belongings.
If possible, try to be home when the exterminator comes by. He or she might be able to provide some insight as to what caused your bug infestation and what you can do to prevent it from happening again. If the exterminator says that the infestation is connected to the condition of the home or property, have them notate those findings for your records—they could be used to negotiate with your landlord, and they might even reimburse you for the cost of the treatment.
If you’re having a bug problem, let the experts at Vulcan Termite & Pest Control handle it. Contact us today.