Renter’s Rights: Ask Your Apartment for Regular Pest Control
If you’ve noticed pests in your apartment, like cockroaches, ants, or spiders, your first instinct may be to pick up the phone and call a Birmingham pest control company for help. But before you do… It’s important to understand your rights as a renter to determine whether or not apartment pest control is your landlord’s responsibility.
Review Your Lease in Advance
As a renter, it’s recommended to review your lease carefully to ensure that it covers potential pest issues. Renters are encouraged to ask their landlord about apartment pest control upfront to determine if the landlord is responsible for dealing with a pest infestation, or if it remains the tenant’s obligation.
Since there are no set guidelines governing apartment pest control, many times the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the renter if pest control isn’t outlined specifically in the lease. Apartment pest control will depend on each property and whether or not the property owner decides to provide the service within the monthly rental agreement.
Nonetheless, many landlords choose to provide extermination services free of charge because it improves the overall appeal of an apartment complex. Keeping a building pest-free is in the best interest of a landlord to promote positive marketing and routine cleanliness in each apartment unit.
Check State Laws
Even if pest control isn’t outlined specifically in your lease, many apartment leases in each state have an implied warranty that an apartment must remain in livable condition all times. This should include services like running water, working locks, reliable electricity supply, and a unit that is free from pest infestations.
Depending on the state, a landlord may be responsible for pest control as a requirement by law. In a state like Florida, landlords are required to provide pest control services for their tenants in apartments, although the same law doesn’t apply to individual rental homes.
When in doubt, contact your local city or state government to find out more information about renters’ rights regarding pest control. Although an occasional spider or cockroach in an apartment may not be cause for serious concern, a legitimate infestation that could violate health codes may warrant legal action against a landlord.
A serious infestation can be reported to the health authorities who may require a landlord to pay a fine and/or fix the issue immediately. In an ideal scenario, a landlord will willingly provide his tenants with regular pest control services to keep an apartment building clean and sanitary!