Unwanted pests present more than health and safety risks. Disagreements between tenants and landlords about who is responsible for dealing with the problem are bound to happen. If you found out that your rental home has since developed a pest problem after you’ve moved in, you ought to take immediate action. Some renters may hesitate to do something to curb the problem. As a renter, you must remember that part of your responsibility is pest control. So, you should know a thing or two about how to prevent your Frederick rental home from getting a pest problem.
Take a close look at your lease because if your actions are the reason for the infestation, it is your responsibility as a tenant to pay for pest control. There are many different types of pests that can invade a rental home. Some kinds of pests, including ants, cockroaches, and fleas, are often attracted to a home because it is not kept clean enough. Whenever garbage bags are left sitting or uncovered food is stored in the home, cockroaches and ants will easily discover it and swarm the home. Such insects thrive in environments with a plentiful food source and love to eat garbage and crumbs. Skunks, mice, rats, raccoons, and other animals are also strongly attracted by garbage left uncovered outside and can create havoc in a very short amount of time. If you’re sharing your house with a dog or other pet, it may be bringing fleas with it as it goes in and out of the house. Fleas carry diseases and can quickly infest every corner of a home.
As you can see, it is usually the tenant’s actions or behavior that invited the pests in. Because of this, under the terms of most leases, the responsibility would be given to you, as a renter, to pay to have the unwanted pests removed. This is why if your rental home has a moisture issue that you failed to report, you could find yourself responsible for the pests that are attracted to such conditions as well. In most incidents, a professional exterminator will be requested to find out whether or not your living conditions caused the pest problem. You might find yourself required to foot the bill for any and all required pest removal services if an analysis of the situation supports such a theory.
The most useful thing that a renter can do is to be proactive about their rental home maintenance. Keeping the rental home pest-free is possible with the many options available to renters nowadays. Making sure that the home is clean, both inside and out is probably the easiest and most effective way to prevent unwanted pests. Keeping garbage and food (both human and pet) in containers with tight lids and disposing of any trash right away is another important strategy for outdoor pests.
Now, for pests that want to be inside the house, make sure to keep the food properly by tightly sealing and storing them in the refrigerator or pantry; also sweep up the crumbs daily. For renters with pets, keeping your animal clean is the best way to avoid a flea infestation and all the problems that come with it. Nowadays, there are various effective products for flea prevention on the market that are geared towards helping in places that are highly prone to fleas and ticks. By acting immediately, you can avert the expense and inconvenience of paying for pest extermination on your rental property.
Are you on the lookout for a Frederick rental home? Check out our available rentals and call us at 410-415-1736 for more information.
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