Question by jkentb:
Is the Landlord responsible for extermination cost of bed bugs when they are responsible?
I own a rental property and the tenants moved out because of bed bugs. I never had bedbugs before and they kept alot of trash in the property and I had a quarterly pest treatment, I kept the deposit for the expensive treatment and now they are unhappy. I was only notified of bed bugs when they moved out, they also didn’t rid the property of silver fish, roaches when they left as per the lease?
Best answer:
Answer by Paula M
As long as you can prove the cost of the treatment and sent the deposit deduction letter in the time allotted by your state…some states 14 days…others 30 days….
You should have photographs of the large amounts of trash and such to support your position that they caused the insect infestation.
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In my state, the owner is responsible for providing a pest free environment upon move in. After that, it’s the tenant’s responsibility.
If you had quarterly pest treatments, I think that goes above and beyond your duties as landlord. Their housekeeping habits contributed to the pest problem and I’d feel positively giddy about taking any further pest control measures out of their deposit..
Bed bugs come either with the mattresses or with the people they do not appear on their own.
It all depends…
Bed bugs move quickly from place to place if the near by area is infested with bed bugs then you might be responible for the treatment also if it does not state on your lease agreement anything about the pest management then the tenates should take care of the cost.
Becareful next time you lease your place out and be sure to state on the lease agreement issues regarding pest control.