Are Rodents In Attic Tenants Responsibility

The number one most important source for defining the parties responsibilities is the lease contract.

Are rodents in attic tenants responsibility. The lease should say that the landlord is delivering the unit in good condition and is responsible for pest control. I explained the situation to my landlord and i also had a company that specializes in removing rats and other critters come to the home and evaluate the situation. In fact on a recent vacation we had at least 2 rats living in the attic. By california law landlords are responsible for eliminating pests in a professional manner if this method is necessary for the unit to comply with local health codes.

Needless to say the rest of the vacation was not that great. When roaches ants and rodents enter the property through a small hole or crack on the wall this infestation becomes your landlord s responsibility to eliminate. If you have rats in the attic do not think they will stay there and not visit the rest of the house. Landlord tenant laws place some responsibility for the control of mice and other vermin on tenants.

The first we knew about it was when we looked between 2 chairs in the dining room and saw it looking up at us. These laws often require tenants to keep their property clean and sanitary. Generally the landlord is responsible but if a landlord can prove the tenant caused the infestation the tenant would be responsible. The local authority has specific legal powers to take steps to ensure that its area is free from rats and mice.

I currently discovered rats in the attic of the home my family and i are renting. If you are renting a place make sure that you keep things nice and tidy. Fleas if there is a flea infestation is present at the start of a new tenancy then it is again down to the landlord to have the carpets and upholstery fumigated if the tenant s pets are not the cause of. Since the lease says tenant is responsible for pest control insects that may very well be construes as the tenant being responsible for all pests not just insects which would include rodents etc.

The tenants evidently feel that i should be doing something about it and have sent me video footage of mice in the kitchen and sound recordings of scratching in the walls. In many cases local authority tenants can contact their landlord to report a problem with pests or vermin and the authority will deal with it through their pest control service. Rats if this is an ongoing problem with the property it is the landlord s responsibility to pay for regular treatment. Don t leave food around for rats and other animals to eat from and if you notice any evidence of rats or other animal invaders make sure you report it immediately.

3 01 3 50 how the lease factors into pest control in rental properties.