Tenant moved into apartment roach free. Claims that roaches just started appearing after some recent rains near a rear entrance door off the kitchen. They agree the unit was roach free when they moved in. Although this is an apartment building, this particular unit is a townhouse that's somewhat separate. Who pays if I hire an exterminator? I was thinking of just spreading some boric acid around, but I think getting the exterminator would be better and saves me from running around.

"Does Heavy Rain Bring Roaches

Posted on January 1, 2020In FAQ

Because roaches tend to make their homes in sewers and drains, when heavy rain occurs, roaches may try to get into your home, seeking higher ground. Roaches can enter your home through tiny cracks and crevices in your foundation, through dishwasher drains, and through other entryways around windows and doors. As much as roaches prefer damp, warm places to nest and can survive underwater for about 40 minutes, they cannot live underwater. Resilient and fast, roaches need a dry place, such as inside your home to weather heavy rains and flooding.

Once inside your home, roaches may take up residence in damp, dark places, such as under your fridge or in your bathroom. American cockroaches, also known as palmetto bugs, are the largest roaches native to the U.S. and also enter structures during periods of heavy rain, to survive but don’t generally live indoors. On the other hand, smaller, German cockroaches entering homes can develop into a roach infestation rapidly. One female German cockroach and her offspring can produce around 300,000 roaches per year.

Roaches are nocturnal, scavenging for food in your home at night and living under counters, fridges, and behind walls. Because of this, you may not know you have a roach infestation until you come home one night, flip on the light switch, and see tons of roaches fleeing from the light. Roaches can trigger asthma attacks in children and can transport E.coli and Salmonella, six parasitic worms, and seven other types of human pathogens.

In Korea-town L.A., the Mexican market has shuttle buses to take stranded "mom" to shop. With free bus services the "mom's" spend a lot, buying only once every two weeks on average. So INSTEAD OF SHOPPING BAGS, they give the buyers recycled cardboard boxes from food delivery's to the store from the manufacturers.

Every time a tenant would come home from this Mexican Market with cardboard boxes, roaches would appear. I drove to the market saw they stored these used boxes outside near to the trash bin. Roaches would lay eggs in the cardboard holes.

SO I told my tenants they can NOT bring these infested boxes to my property. They kept it up.

So it was determined by the County Health Department the LANDLORD has to hire an exterminator, and then if the landlord could prove the tenant caused the issue, then the landlord could sue the store owner and the tenant.

My lease says that we live in NC, which is also the home to bugs and snakes and we are not responsible for them entering the house - they are a housekeeping issue. If it's the first month I will send them a bunch of Large Bug Baits from Amazon and tell them to put them ALL OVER the house and then keep them fresh, that a pro in fact does not help at all - in fact I think they feed them.

You should call YOUR exterminator and of course, pay him. Bill it back to tenants if you think it is warranted, but, by all means don’t allow an infestation of cockroaches in your property.

Define bugs, actually.

Water Bugs are like the T-Rex of roaches. They are everywhere here, they can drop out of trees on your head YIKES. German Roaches - what I think of as true roaches - are from dirty housekeeping. Or from paper bags from the grocery store. Or from furniture from the thrift store. Or from boxes from the liquor store used for moving.

I use Combat roach baits and the plunger/gel. I also experimented with different brands and alternate. Hot Shot and others. I push the plunger and squeeze out a ribbon an inch long near pipe entrances under cabinets. Trying to hide it behind a pipe.

I read on here to apply some on top of doors as they like up high where it is warm. Behind the toilet, on floor. Under fridge/oven.

Pat trust me the Large Bug Bait Traps work miracles! Send them to your tenants, put them on subscription if you are required to pay in VA. As someone who lives on the water and under oak trees, I know. The dinosaur bugs will move in with bells on if I don't use them. I used to pay the pros to come to my house and it just didn't help at all. As I said, I swear they fed them not killed them. The Large Bug traps WORK but you do have to put them anywhere there might be a hint of moisture and keep them fresh.

Used religiously, the only bugs I see inside are dead or dying. If I see a live one, it's time to replace all the traps.

In Pennsylvania, the landlord is responsible in multi-unit buildings for pest control.

GKARL,

My lease is clear: according to an Indiana Health Code, the RESIDENT is responsible for pest control in a SFH. I added it’s part of everyday housekeeping, like shut the door to keep flies out.

Also, we treat each home at turnover. This helps A LOT!

You’re a reasonable guy. Sometimes a little help goes a long way to keep a res.

My technique is to offer $20 reimbursement for them to buy some RAID and use it. This way I am not spraying chemicals in an occupied home.

Works for people who truly hate bugs.

Food grade diatomaceous earth powder helps after spraying.