What Landlords Need to Know About Pest Control

If you want to make money on real estate, especially rental income as a landlord, then one of the things that you must focus on is pest control in Phoenix. There is more than one reason why this is so.

News about pests like bed bugs invading rental property are not rare, but nowadays we are hearing about landlords losing thousands of dollars in lawsuits filed by tenants that became victims of these pests.

These events also tell us how in some cases the landlords go to extreme lengths first to avoid the expenses of pest control in Phoenix, and then exhibiting criminal behavior in order to prevent a lawsuit brought on because of the former. But as it often happens, they not only have to pay more in settlements than they would if they went with pest control in Phoenix, they end up having bad press as well.

As a result of such instances, the debate on whether the tenant or the landlord is responsible for pest control becomes even more intense. This is also because pest infestations are not rarities. Common creatures that infest residential buildings include mice, rats, ants, fleas, wasps nests, cockroaches, and bed-bugs.

Bed-bugs are especially a nuisance for tenants. Since the nature of the rented home means that different types of people come and go with their material possessions, this provides the perfect way of bed-bugs to travel in and out of the building. These are usually brown in color and do not have wings like several of their insect buddies.

Since they are extremely small in their physical makeup (1/16-1/4 of an inch), they are not so easy to detect. Add this to the fact that bed-bugs become most active when it is dark. But most importantly, you wouldn’t probably even notice when these minuscule creatures are feeding on you or your pet’s blood.

While difficult to spot, there are some common areas where these pests most likely make their station. These include bed sheets, mattresses, bed springs, door frames, and window curtains. While cleaning the house on a regular basis is a good way to avoid bed-bug infestation, nothing can replace professional pest control in Phoenix.

But this brings us back to the original question: who pays for the services, the landlord or the tenant?

There are instances where you can easily determine whose responsibility it is. For example, as a landlord, you are responsible for the building architecture and facilities like sanitary and all fittings. If the pest invasion is linked to these areas (e.g. mice entering through cracked doors), then the responsibility falls on you.

However, if you have already performed a pest inspection before the tenants entered and a termite or rodent problem arises, you as the landlord cannot be blamed directly.

The best thing is to specify all the conditions pertaining to pest problems clearly on the tenancy agreement to avoid any future inconvenience. Ultimately, making your building pest-free will fall in your favor as a landlord. Spending on pest control in Phoenix is far better than losing rent money in the long run.

Hire the best pest control in Phoenix today and avoid issues with your tenants.