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So I've been renting an older house for about 3 months now. As soon as it started getting warm we started getting lots of ants and spiders in the house. I've bombed for spiders, and have the ant issue pretty well controlled. The newest thing? Rats in the basement. Who is responsible, me or the landlord? I've been trying to not be an annoying tenant, but I really can't deal with the rats. They've already damaged some of my belongings that are stored in the basement.
Send a certified, delivery confirmation letter to your landlord, explain the infestation problem and ask that it be remedied by X/X date. If they don't, your options are to pay for it yourself and discount it from rent (you need a WRITTEN AGREEMENT from the LL for this), or call the city-health department.
In my area, minor problems with ants and spiders are pretty common, and we have in our lease that the tenant should first attempt to use traps to handle them, since they are inexpensive, and are usually effective. Anything other than that is the landlord's responsibility, unless caused by the tenant's actions. If there is a food source left out regularly (pet food is a common attractant), that is often the source of the problem.
So responsibility isn't totally a black and white issue. It depends in part on the "why". I've never had rats in a rental unit, so I'm not sure whether they have an attractant, or if some areas just tend to get them no matter what.
Assuming the rats are not being attracted by a dirty house, food source or water source, Carlitos' advice sounds good to me.
In tropical climes, rats and mice and ants and spiders and roaches are part and parcel of the scene and really aren't that difficult to deal with. What does your lease say, if anything, about the LL's responsibility where these are concerned? What do your state's landlord tenant laws say?
When you move into an area where nuisances such as these are part and parcel of the landscape it behooves you to be proactive. Sorry not to be of more help!
The spiders and ants aren't a real big issue, its the rats in the basement that are really aggravating. I think the problem is that the rodents have access to the basement from the outside. My lease says nothing about pest control, and the only state laws I can find on the matter are in regards to bed bugs. My rental is managed through a large rental management company. I called today, and maintenance was supposed to call me back, but never did (noone was in at the time I called)
The spiders and ants aren't a real big issue, its the rats in the basement that are really aggravating. I think the problem is that the rodents have access to the basement from the outside. My lease says nothing about pest control, and the only state laws I can find on the matter are in regards to bed bugs. My rental is managed through a large rental management company. I called today, and maintenance was supposed to call me back, but never did (noone was in at the time I called)
After reading your post it may be you who has to pay for it...
I'm not saying you caused it but it is hard to determine if a tenant is leaving food laying around so rodents are coming in or if it is an area issue....
Overall I would say that rodents if more than 5 are for the LL and the remainder is for the tenants unless the lease is saying something else.
Why not just set traps for them? The traps are inexpensive and they are pretty effective. I really find that rodents get into the house whether or not there is food left lying around or not, we don't leave food out nor do I leave dirty dishes in the sink and we have had issues with mice before, just really depends on the area you live in.
I rent a older home in Billings Mt. My lease agreement says nothing about pest control or water. Land management company suddenly asked us to put the water in our name and start paying it. She picked two random months also that she wants us to pay for. We have an infestation of black widows. We called a pest control company who sprayed once and will continue to do this each month. Never dreamed of asking my landlord to pay for this. What are the laws concerning suddenly asking / telling us to pay water....and pest control responsibility. Again neither Are mentioned in my lease agreement. We have lived here six months. Never been late on paying our rent....always been early. We maintain the yard ....it is huge by the way. We have a company coming out to fertilize and spray for dandelions. It was a wreck when we moved in now it is gorgeous. Never dreamed of asking my landlord to pay for that company either.
Last edited by Willsur; 09-01-2014 at 09:28 AM..
Reason: More info needed
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