Pest control is a constant need here in southern Florida’s warm, tropical climate. The Sunshine State is home to a wide variety of little critters who all want to take up residence inside, so pest control companies are always on the move trying to keep their clients’ homes and businesses pest-free. However, who is responsible for paying for these services when the building is owned by a landlord, managed by a property management company, and rented out to tenants? In this post, we aim to shed some light on this common renter’s question.
No Definitive Answer
The reason this question comes up so much with renters is that it is not clearly addressed in Florida’s landlord-tenant laws. While the landlord is responsible for making sure the rental property is liveable (aka pest-free) initially, it is not always their responsibility to maintain pest control services. In fact, Florida’s law only requires that landlords keep apartments free of pests, specifically rats, mice, cockroaches, ants, wood-destroying pests, and bed bugs. This leaves out tenants of single-family homes and duplexes. Many landlords and property management companies take the fact that the law only mentions apartments to mean that other property types are not covered, and therefore they do not provide any pest control services during a tenancy of any property type other than apartments. On the other hand, there are also many landlords and property managers who don’t skirt this responsibility and provide pest control services for all their rental properties. The difference is in the type of landlord or property manager you are dealing with.
Check the Lease or Rental Agreement
The best advice we can give tenants before renting any property is to check the lease or rental agreement for a clause specific to pest control. If there is nothing in the lease or rental agreement about pest control, ask that a clause be included before signing anything. It should clearly spell out who is responsible for pest control, how often preventative measures should be taken, and how to report an infestation.
Initial Pest Control Measures
All properties managed by Douglas Realty Property Management in southwest Florida come with an Implied Warranty of Habitability upon move-in, ensuring that the property is free of any pests, along with other liveability requirements. You’ll never have to worry about moving into an infested home with our top-notch property management services, including high-quality pest control. Regular, preventive pest control treatments are also an integral part of how we do business, as this is an easy way to protect our clients’ properties from pest damage.
Tenant’s Role in Pest Control
While Douglas makes sure that there are no pests in the property at move-in and provides routine preventative pest control services, tenants also have the responsibility to maintain the rental property in a way that discourages pests and infestations. Properly disposing of garbage, keeping the property clean, and never leaving food laying around are the best ways to keep pests at bay. If a pest infestation occurs because of negligence by the tenant, they could be responsible to pay for any resulting damage. Once again, check the lease or rental agreement for specifics on tenant’s responsibilities and how to handle pest infestations.
Addressing Pest Infestations
Tenants should report potential pest infestations to the property manager as soon as possible for quick remediation. Property management cannot provide extermination services if they are not aware there is a problem, and once pests have invaded the property routine pest control treatments probably won’t be enough to eradicate them. If a tenant fails to report an infestation in a timely manner, they could be responsible for any ensuing damage.
Clean, Pest-Free Properties for Rent in Southwest Florida
In Florida, the warm, humid climate is a double-edged sword, offering year-round outdoor enjoyment but also challenging property managers and tenants with the task of staying on top of pest control. The responsibility for managing pests in rental properties is shared, with property managers taking the lead on initial and preventive measures, and tenants maintaining cleanliness and proper sanitation. If you’re searching for a property management company that takes pest control seriously, Douglas Realty Property Management is the call you need to make. We protect our client’s properties with frequent inspections and aggressive action when any pest issue is discovered. We keep our tenants happy by providing them with clean, pest-free rental properties in desirable locations. For more information on our premier property management services in southwest Florida, contact us at 239-542-6906 or send us a message online.
