Keeping Tenants Happy: How Smart Landlords Handle Pest Problems

As a landlord, one of your biggest concerns is keeping your tenants happy and satisfied with the conditions of the property they are renting. 

One of the concerns that tenants and landlords need to be consistently on the lookout for is pest infestations. If not treated properly, these pests can cause a lot of damage and negatively impact your tenants’ health and safety. 

Common pest issues in rental properties

Depending on the region you are based in, your property may be more susceptible to certain kinds of pests. 

In Florida and coastal areas, there are more cases of pest infestations relating to mosquitoes, while in the southwestern areas, there are more concerns surrounding scorpions and rodents escaping into residential areas due to the hot weather. 

These are some of the more common pests that you will find in residential areas regardless of location:

•  Cockroaches: These pests are attracted to food and moisture. Because of this, they are often found in spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. Cockroaches are a problem, because they can spread disease and trigger allergies. Thorough cleaning, removing debris, and sealing entry points can help control infestations. 
• Rodents: These pests are undomesticated rats and mice. Due to their size, they can easily enter homes through holes in the walls, pipes, and other small openings to the property. They pose a health risk to the people in the home and they can cause structural damage by chewing on wires and wood. You can lure them out with traps, but professional intervention would be the best option.
•  Bed Bugs: These pests mainly cause infestations in mattresses and furniture. They often require professional intervention to eradicate.
•  Insects: Wasps and other stinging insects tend to build nests around properties and can be harmful to tenants. In addition to stinging insects, infestations of ants and silverfish can also cause property damage due to factors such as poor cleanliness and moisture issues. Services that handle stinging insects will be able to help remove any nests and infestations in your property.
•  Fleas: Flea infestation can target your pets, but it doesn’t stop there. Fleas can infest your carpets and furniture, which can result in allergic reactions and general discomfort to the tenants. Proper cleaning and medication for pets can help with this.

The cause of infestations

When it comes to dealing with pests, one thing to investigate is how the infestations occurred. For example, if there are rodent issues, you would want to check for holes in the rental.

There are several reasons as to why pest infestations occur: 

• An environment that is not consistently cleaned, which acts as a food or habitat for pests to breed in.
• Pets: If you have outdoor pets that are social with other animals, they can bring in fleas and other pests.
• Migration: Pests can migrate from neighboring areas and properties, especially if they are unkept.
• Construction: If you are conducting renovations or if there are construction efforts nearby, it can disturb pests, which end up seeking shelter in nearby buildings. 

The negative effects of pest problems

Pests are more than just a nuisance in a home, they can bring in a whole host of issues that can affect your tenants and their families.

Health issues

• Pests, like rodents, roaches, and mosquitoes, can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, salmonella, leptospirosis, and dengue fever.
• There is also the concern of allergic reactions and allergies. This is caused through the pest’s waste, skin, or venom that they transmit.
• In terms of mental stress, these pests can increase stress and anxiety levels in both landlords and tenants.

Property damage

• Buildings especially made from wood are prime targets for termites and carpenter ants, and rodents. They can cause significant damage to homes and can cost a lot of money to repair.
• If pests like rodents get into a home, they can chew on electrical wires, which can result in fires and outages. 
• Environmentally, they can disrupt local ecosystems, affect wildlife, and contribute to environmental degradation. 

Financial concerns

• For landlords, pest infestations can lead to repairs for damage to structures and replacing affected materials. 
• If landlords want to list a property for leasing, pest infestations can lower property value and make it less attractive to renters or buyers. 

Tenant retention rates

• Pest infestations can affect your standing as a landlord and can negatively affect retention rates. 
• Pests lead to tenant dissatisfaction and potential legal issues. Make sure you know the landlord-tenant legal responsibilities for handling pest problems in your rental.

Pest Management

To properly manage infestations, there are several methods you can use.

Pest control services

• Have a pest control service that you frequently engage with to come in for routine servicing.
• In certain instances, explain to the tenant when and how to engage with these services. 
• Provide your tenants with the affiliated company, or alternative options that are approved by you. This is to ensure that the environment and tenants are safe and the matter is ethically taken care of.

Tenant communication

• Keep tenants in the loop about pest control measures and involve them in the process. 
• Provide them with timely updates when routine maintenance is taking place, and how to prepare themselves. 
• Provide tenants with tips on how to maintain the cleanliness of the property, and guidelines to follow when an infestation occurs.

Prevention tips

• Inspections: conduct regular inspections of the properties, annually or biannually, with professional services enlisted to identify early signs of trouble.
• Sealing entry points: Inspect cracks, holes, and gaps. Seal these areas as well as the areas around pipes and walls.
• Regular cleaning: Trim bushes, clean gutters, remove standing water around the property to prevent infestations from occurring. 
• Waste management: Ensure that garbage is stored in sealed bins and disposed of regularly.

Legalities

• In the lease, outline pest control responsibilities to avoid misunderstanding, it should include the legal obligations of the landlord to ensure tenant safety, and it should also include tenant responsibilities in terms of maintaining a pest-free environment. 
• The local laws of your region need to be understood in terms of pest control responsibilities and rental properties.
• Ensure that tenants and landlords have records of inspections, treatments, and communication for legal compliance purposes. 

Conclusion

Keeping tenants happy and safe is one of the core responsibilities of a landlord. Pest control initiatives are part of this responsibility. Having a plan in place to recognize potential pest issues and strategies to take care of them should be included in the lease agreement. This will help improve satisfaction levels of your tenants and retention rates.