There are certain kinds of tenants you do not need permission from the landlord, and they are bugs, rodents, etc. You certainly detest bugs and rodents on your property. Pests damage the rental property and also chase away actual tenants. A bug-infested rental will not be attractive as a desired habitation, and the property’s value will depreciate.
This stops landlords from making money during the short term. It also affects the resale value of a property. Allowing pests to thrive in a rental property is a sure way to destroy the asset. Keeping a rental free of cockroaches, bed bugs, mice and fleas are one of a landlord’s significant jobs. Doing it effectively can help the rental business in at least four ways.
How Pests Affect Your Property
Tenant’s Inconvenience
Landlords whose properties are affected by pests will have to deal with repeated complaints from tenants. These tenants may go as far as reporting the owner to the health department.
Physical Damage To The Property
Rodents chew through plaster/wood, dig up the lawn and compromise a home’s foundation. Wasps also damage water lines and walls. Animal urine flows into the walls, and the odor can make a home quite unpleasant.
High Tenant Turnover
When tenants don’t complete their lease due to pest disturbance, landlords lose the rental income they could have earned. If this happens for a long time, it can cause the investments to fail.
Safety And Health Issues
Rodents and bugs spread disease, cause asthma or allergies, and also contaminate food. As a fact, failing to keep a rental pest-free infringes on a tenant’s rights. Property owners can be asked to pay a fine for health and safety violations.
Below are ways owners can be sure that their pest-control strategy yields the expected outcomes.
Empty The Garbage Can And Keep It Closed
Land Pests normally enter a home for food, shelter and water. Using a well-covered trash bin reduces the ability of pests to access food. Keep the trash bin away from the property, if possible. Most times, the food is unknowingly supplied by the people who live in the house. Therefore, to make it hard for pest to survive, deny them access to food waste, their most common source of sustenance.
Avoid Standing Water Around The Property
Ensure you fix any leaks, faucets or pipes that may lead to standing water. Standing water is a breeding ground for multiple pests like mosquitoes. Empty all debris or areas where rainwater can collect.
Educate Your Tenants
Landlords should educate their tenants on what to do to keep pests from invading the property. The property owner can make it a part of the lease agreement to make this binding as the tenant’s duty.
Landlords can educate them to;
- Clean the home regularly and remove food remains.
- Wash your clothes and linens frequently to help keep them clean.
- Keep food in airtight containers
- Clean mattresses at least twice per year.
- Fix leaking faucets and pipes.
- Get rid of clutter from corners.
Seal Off Any Entry Point
Carefully inspect your property’s exterior and interior for any entry points. Pests will always strive to find a way into your property if there are entry points. Ensure you seal any cracks and crevices.
Exterminate Regularly
You don’t need to wait for signs of pest infestation before doing extermination. As soon as pests begin to show up everywhere, the problem will advance. So instead of waiting for clear evidence of pest infestation, owners can regularly conduct inspections on the property. Extermination should be once every one or two months.
Preventative maintenance is definitely cheaper in the long run.
Remove Clutter
Removing clutters from the environment will get rid of pests that hide in them. Drying up, lighting, and airing dark and damp places in the home will discourage pests.
Eliminate Breeding Sites
Stagnant water is an attraction for bugs, rodents, etc. They serve as a breeding site for mosquitoes, cockroaches, and several others. Rodents and the other creatures who feed on water-breeding insects, mosquitoes, and cockroaches are attracted to stagnant water. Apart from stagnant water outside the home, leaky pipes and faucets inside the property create conditions that enable pests to thrive.
The Pests Commonly Seen in Rental Properties
- Rats
- Bedbugs
- Mice
- Spiders
- Ants
- Fleas
- Cockroaches
You probably may not see them in plain sight during the day, but it doesn’t mean that they are not around. Mice and rats usually hide around interior walls, deep inside kitchen cabinets, or even behind huge appliances. Another thing to note is that ants may possibly be underneath appliances or near food sources.
To confirm if you have pests in your home, you’ll notice pest droppings, rodent nests, etc.
During the winter, many pests look for warmth in rental properties. You may see rats, mice, spiders, and cockroaches looking for warmth during colder seasons. To combat this problem, landlords can also do the following:
- Take Action Promptly – As soon as you notice a sign of an infestation, landlords and tenants should work together to fix it immediately.
- Prevention Treatments – Pest control specialists can help to detect issues before they occur, preventing future infestations.
- Regular Property Inspections – Landlords should prepare for regular visits with rental property inspectors to ensure there is no pest disturbance.
- Seasonal Maintenance – The pests that infest rental homes may differ based on the current season. Landlords must keep up with seasonal maintenance and schedule pest control visits.
- Build Good Relationships with Vendors – Landlords need to build good relationships with vendors and staff members in order to learn about pest infestations and their prevention.
Other Tips for maintaining a pest-free rental Property include;
- Seal all the holes and cracks in your windows or doors.
- Cover vents using wire mesh.
- Keep gutters and drains properly.
- Minimize using wood for landscaping.
- Properly take care of any produce in your backyard, so it doesn’t attract pests.
- Keeping a rental property free of bugs and rodents requires a consistent maintenance routine.
- Keeping them out requires constant vigilance.
