HI all..... the flea post got me thinking... what do you have, if anything, in your lease about pest control in relations to fleas or things like that? We allow pets, but I wanted to throw something in our lease that says that Tenant is 100% responsible for any and all pest control in relation to animals and not just pin point fleas?

Thoughts?

First check if in your jurisdiction, if the law allows you to make that responsibility of the tenant.

When we started, we had some vague wording about "tenant shall keep the property sanitary, including periodic pest control." After our first bedbug encounter, we punched it up and clarified things. "Tenant shall inspect the premises for pests upon taking possession. All pest issues arising after 72 hours will be solely the responsibility of the tenant" and so on. And if they give me back a place with pests, I ding $x for each treatment necessary to eradicate the pests. And so on.

People with multi's are less likely to be able to get away with that kind of stuff. In TX, for example, Tenant A is responsible for Unit A, and Tenant B is responsible for Unit B, but I'm responsible for protecting B from A's pests. So in reality, I'm responsible for the whole thing, to make sure things stay clean.

Here, in California, no matter who did what and what you can prove, the LANDLORD must remediation any pests including fleas, roaches, toads, ants, termites, rats, etc. Then after the property is free from those pests, may a landlord go after a tenant for causing these issues.

For example one of my tenants allowed her sister, brother-in-law, children and dogs to stay in her large apartment while their home had Bedbugs re-mediated. The family brought in bedbugs into my rental property. After spending time, money and having a professional company treat the rental twice, were the bedbugs killed and removed.

I got proof that the "guests" had bedbugs and their home was infested. Instead of having their dogs treated and washing their cloths before staying in my rental, they took with them the problem. I submitted a bill to my tenants and they refused to pay. I the submitted a bill to my tenants sister. She refused to pay. I then submitted a bill to my tenants sister's insurance company and made them pay up, or I would sue and they had insurance (their home had a mortgage and must carry a fire and liability policy). If not I would have sued my tenant, her sister/family and the insurance company in small claims court.

Every lease should have "catch all" wording to the effect of: the premises were given to the tenant in a clean, sanitary, undamaged (except as noted on Move-in form), pest-free condition and must be returned in a like manner or tenant will be responsible for all costs to return it to that condition.

Our lease specifies we provide a 'bug free guarantee' for the first 30 days (bed bugs excluded). After that, ANY infestation is on their dime. As Robert J stated, WE hire the exterminator, then bill the tenant for reimbursement. Any money received is applied to bills, charges, and damages first...rent last. So if they don't send the extra, they are short rent and get evicted.

My rental agreement says that the property is handed over free from pests and vermin and tenant is responsible for pest control.

It doesn't say so, but I would treat for termites or similar problems that the tenant didn't cause and that affect my house. But the tenant is not to call me if they see a mouse. It is their responsibility to set a mouse trap.

In my area, I have to go around the property and spray for wasps between tenants. I get rid of them and just about every tenant allows them to move back in.