Slugs

[Account Closed]

I just purchased a duplex 2 weeks ago where the rents were almost half of market rent.  I decided not to do what everyone else in Portland is doing when they acquire a property--namely kick out all the tenants, rehab, and raise the rents considerably--because the tenants are families and I felt for them.  Instead, I raised the rents to about 75% of market and have started doing some of the long-deferred maintenance.  

Today, I got this email from one of the tenants: 

I've been in there a few times for repairs, and I've never noticed a slug problem.  I think she saw two slugs, based on this email.  I want to reply, "did you ever mention this to the previous landlord and what did they do?"  

If I were a tenant and had this issue, I would probably buy some traps or bait or whatever and deal with it myself.  I don't want to set a precedent that I'm going jump at her beck and call every time she sees an insect. I just spent 3 hours over there on Monday replacing the shower handles.  Clearly, I don't want insects to come in, but I'm not sure I can do anything more than she can.  This is probably a C property in a B neighborhood, and her rent is 75% of market.  

suggestions?  

[Michael Boyer]

Slugs inside is a newer one for me...

Any insects getting in the unit may signal a larger issue (like are there gaps, moisture, etc).....So you may want to check that out..

But my best (easy and safe) slug recipe for the garden: beer..... (it is actually widely used in organic gardening for this purpose)

I just put small bowls in the dirt at ground level filled about 3/4 with beer (they seem to like it all, so cheap swill works fine). I like to do it right before it gets dark and they come out.

They belly up to the fermented feast, drink away, get drunk and fall in and drown to death (also a possible moral to this story for humans, too, that I share with my kids when I show them the dead slug bodies floating in the beer).. 

I have never used it for indoor slugs, but I would put the beer OUTSIDE the area impacted like in or on the ground outside the bathroom. It is effective a few days (who likes hot, flat beer--not even slugs) and if it rains it will dilute it, so refill it. You could drop off a six or twelve pack.

Best of luck...