Who’s Responsible for Pest Control in a Rental Property?

Pest control falls under the general responsibility of both the Landlord or Property Manager and tenant to maintain the premises in a state of reasonable repair, safety and cleanliness.

In most circumstances, the party responsible for the infestation in a rental property is the one responsible for fixing it. However, proving who caused the problem is not always easy to determine for every case.

Pests may be rats, mice, ants, termites, cockroaches, bees, wasps, possums, nesting birds, spiders, snakes, silverfish, bedbugs or fleas.

The general rule is that the Landlord/Property Manager is responsible for pest control at the beginning of the tenancy, and the tenant holds responsibility from that time onwards. With regards to arranging inspections, treatments or repairs, the Landlord/Property Manager is responsible as well.

It’s important to specify terms regarding pest control in the tenancy agreement. Otherwise, state legislation will serve as the guide for pest control in the rental property. Make sure both parties understand their obligations at the start of the tenancy.

A good Property Manager will make sure all parties clearly understand their responsibilities, and with the help of a comprehensive property condition report and regular inspections, ensure these responsibilities are met.

For your free investment property health check, sign up here.