Can You Be Held Responsible For Termite Treatments When You're A Tenant?

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Renting a home instead of owning your own property offers a few distinct benefits to the tenant. One of the biggest benefits is that most forms of property damage, as long as you didn't cause them as a tenant, are the responsibility of the landlord to fix instead of you. When the damage in question is being caused by millions of furiously chewing termites, the idea of having someone else pay for treatment and repairs can relieve a lot of stress. But is there a chance you could be held responsible for paying for the termites instead? Find out the facts so you're prepared to deal with the pests and your landlord.

General Responsibility

Many tenant laws vary greatly from state to state, but responsibility for pest control is surprisingly standard across the country. In general, it's the landlord's responsibility in order to pay for pest control treatments and repairs caused by pests. Of course, this can be overturned if the pest is attracted due to a lack of cleaning by the tenant or some other provable negligence. However, termites are rarely involved in this kind of dispute because termites are attracted by wood and not the behaviors or actions of the tenants. Yet there are still ways for a landlord or property owner to make you responsible for paying for termite removal.

Lease Exclusions

One of the only ways a landlord can make you responsible for termite damage is if your lease specifically states that you are responsible for all pest control as the tenant. In these cases, you don't need to attract the pest to be held liable, only fail to deter them. Check your lease carefully for clauses that give you pest control responsibilities. Paying for deterrents can save you thousands of dollars if you're in an area with termite infestations or are renting a property with wooded surroundings. The price of pest deterrents will still be lower than the cost of having to replace the entire structure after extensive termite damage. Consider renegotiating your lease as well so you can't be held responsible for pests that can be practically impossible to prevent.

Condition Maintenance

When you discover any signs of termite damage, it's your responsibility to notify the property's owner or you could end up paying for repairs. However, a landlord who ignores the problem can't sue you later for damages. They are also violating your right as a tenant to live in a well-maintained and safe home. Even what appears to be minor termite damage can threaten the home's stability to the point of danger. If your landlord is not taking proper action to treat a pest problem, you can break your lease and withhold your rent in most states and move out to a property without pests and damage. You don't necessarily need to prove a danger from the pests, only that they're not being treated promptly and that they could eventually pose a danger.

Tenting Treatment

Since termites generally require the whole house to be tented for thorough treatment, you'll have to leave the rental property for at least a few days. Unless you're paying for the treatment as per your lease, your landlord is responsible for dropping the price of your rent by a pro-rated amount based on the number of days you have to stay somewhere else. For example, if your rent is $1000 a month and you have to leave for five days, your landlord should drop that month's rent by at least $166. They're not responsible for any other costs related to your stay in a hotel during that time.

For more information, contact companies like 1st Solution Pest Control.

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12 February 2018

how to eliminate pests for good

Do you spend your spring and summer months battling the pests that enter your home? There are many ways to prevent the intrusion of ants, roaches, flies, mosquitoes, mice and other pests in your home. I own several rental properties that I have to be sure do not get infested with all sorts of pests and have learned a lot about preventing the intrusion to begin with. You can learn from my personal experiences and keep the pests from ever becoming a serious issue in your home. With a few minor changes to the home and working with a skilled pest control agent, your home can be pest-free forever!