It’s a fact of life that pests and vermin can sometimes invade your living space – whether this be annoying insects, rodents scurrying around, or other unwanted creatures. But who bears the responsibility for tackling these unwelcome guests in a rented property?
Read on to find out more…
Tenant Obligations
Tenants certainly have a certain level of responsibility when it comes to dealing with pests and vermin. It is expected that tenants should keep the property clean, maintain hygiene standards, and take necessary measures to prevent infestations. These responsibilities include:
- Regular Cleaning Tenants should ensure that the property remains clean and free from food debris that may attract pests. Regular vacuuming, sweeping, and proper waste disposal are essential to minimize the risk of infestations.
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Reporting Infestations Tenants should promptly inform their landlord or letting agent if they notice any signs of pests or vermin in the property. Early detection and reporting can help prevent the problem from escalating.
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Taking Preventive Measures Tenants should report issues like obvious holes, cracks and crevices so they can be sealed if likely to be an issue.
Landlord Responsibilities
While tenants play a crucial role in preventing and reporting pest issues, the primary responsibility for dealing with pests and vermin in a rented property lies with the landlord.
Landlords have a legal obligation to provide their tenants with a safe and habitable living environment and this includes addressing pest control concerns. Landlord responsibilities include:
- Property Maintenance Landlords should ensure that the property is structurally sound, with no openings or entry points that vermin can exploit to their advantage.
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Timely Response When tenants report pest-related problems, landlords should respond promptly and take appropriate action. This may involve hiring professional pest control services to address the infestation effectively.
Shelley, one of our Lettings Managers says;
“…we always ensure that any issues with mice or rats inside a property receive specialist pest control treatment as quickly as possible to stop the problem escalating. We also, importantly, request that the landlord does ‘proofing’ works to prevent future infestations….”
The responsibility, therefore, for dealing with pests and vermin in a rented property depends on the cause of the problem.
Tenants must maintain a level of cleanliness and, if an issue is caused by poor hygiene practices, they will ultimately be the ones responsible for sorting out the issue or paying the bill for the treatment.
Landlords, however, have an obligation to ensure that properties are ‘fit for habitation’ during a tenancy and most pest and vermin issues will fall under this remit.
Whoever is responsible, having to live with a pest infestation can be upsetting and unpleasant. This is why at Horizon Lets we always treat reports of pests and vermin with the highest priority and work with highly regarded pest control specialists.
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