Pest Control Tips for Landlords

Being a landlord is a lot of responsibility, from ensuring the health and safety of your tenants to taking care of your property. Often, one responsibility that can get overlooked by landlords is proper pest control. 

Not only is pest control in your best interest, as it improves your reputation, but according to many states’ laws, pest control is a landlord’s obligation. Most laws deem that all rental properties must be habitable, and a pest-infested apartment or rental home is often considered inhabitable. Since maintaining a pest-free property is vital, we’re sharing landlord pest control tips—courtesy of the pest control professionals here at Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control.

Get Regular Pest Inspections and Treatments

While you may think of pest control as a step you take after you discover pests, that’s not the best strategy to follow. Instead of waiting for tenants to stumble upon an unwelcome visitor, be proactive and get regular commercial pest control inspections and treatments. 

Work with a trusted pest control company, like Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control, to perform inspections of the outer perimeter of your property to identify any potential pest entry points. Have this thorough inspection, along with preventive treatments, performed at least once each year.

Communicate With Tenants Regarding Pest Control

Communicate with tenants about pest control, namely when they move in and when inspections or treatments are applied. Include information about pest control services in the lease, including when tenants may be responsible for paying for pest control. Keep in mind that landlords are responsible for paying for pest control in almost every case unless there’s proof that the tenant caused the infestation.

When it comes time for a regular pest control inspection or treatment, don’t forget to notify your tenants well in advance, especially if service specialists need to enter the units or home. This is especially important if your tenants have pets. 

Schedule Pest Control Services Immediately Following Sightings

If your tenant reports a pest or you spot one yourself, immediately call Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control or another reliable pest control company near you. Be sure to document the problem, especially if a tenant reports it. This way, you have information for the pest control specialists and your records. 

It’s essential to take immediate action to solve tenants’ pest control problems to abide by property laws in your state. In many cases, landlords opt to pay for alternate lodging for tenants while units are treated, especially in the case of extensive infestations. Clearly communicate with your tenants regarding pest control and alternative lodging, if necessary.

Prevent Pests From Infesting Your Property

Along with hiring a pest control company, there are some steps you can take to prevent pest control infestations on your property:

• Thoroughly clean and inspect units between tenants. If a tenant leaving your property had an unknown pest problem, don’t pass the infestation on to the next tenant.
• Educate your tenants on pest prevention. Remind your tenants that you expect them to remove all trash from their unit promptly and dispose of it properly, and inform them that cleanliness is essential for avoiding pests. 
• Perform annual apartment inspections if necessary. We recommend taking this step if you’ve had persistent pest problems despite using professional pest control services.
• Complete all maintenance promptly. Tenant complaints and maintenance requests can often be evidence of pests, such as musty smells or damage to wooden structures. Plus, unsolved maintenance issues, like leaks, can attract pests.
• Regularly landscape your property’s exterior. Pests can often take up residence in shrubbery and enter apartments and homes when bushes aren’t trimmed well. 

Get Reliable Pest Control With Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control

If you’re a property manager or other business owner in need of commercial pest control services in Arizona, Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control is the name to remember. Our property management pest control covers the most common pests found in apartments, like scorpions, roaches, and bedbugs. 

Whether you’re dealing with an active pest problem or want to prevent future infestations, Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control can help. Start by checking to see if your property is included in our list of Arizona pest control service areas. Call us or fill out a contact form today to get a free quote and schedule an inspection.