Tenant Fleas (Pest) Complaint

[Jorge Liang]

Recently, my tenant has complained about fleas on his dogs from stray cats out in the front yard. The tenant has requested a pest control company to spray the front yard. I am sympathetic and plan on covering the cost of the spray. 

Here are some additional facts: 

1. Tenant refuses my recommendation to have his dogs wear flea & tick collar. "Not natural" he says.

2. Tenant also does a good job keeping the place inside clean.

3. I have never had a flea or tick problem reported from previous tenants.

Questions for you all:

1. Am I, as the owner, responsible for pests that may or may not exist outside of the house and are brought into the house by the Tenant's dogs?

2. If the answer to 1 is yes, then am I just stuck footing the bill if a flea problem were to reoccur?

Thanks in advance.