Is townhome a single family or multi family unit?

[Sofiya Cherni]

I’ve got a townhome rental unit right next to my private residence. I’ve been paying for quarterly routine pest treatments since tenant moved in mid January 2018 (on a 2 year lease). Tenants are difficult to work with when it comes to scheduling the pest service. I schedule a week or two in advance and then they’re not home when tech is here or like this time the techs give me a window of 7:30-5 (all day, but give shorter window the day of), tenant was emailed the info Monday asking to let me know Monday if it needs to be rescheduled. They just notified me (end of day Wednesday) that they’ll be available after 3 pm only. Tenant also stated that they seem to have mice in laundry room (first floor, winter is coming, nothing out of ordinary). Per Montgomery County, MD ‘The property owner is responsible for extermination in multi-family rental units and the tenant is responsible in single family rental units.’ When I obtained the rental license the townhome is classified as single family. 

My question is two fold:

With regards to who pays for pest control is townhome also considered a single family or a multi family?

If single family, how should I break it to them to start paying and scheduling their own appointments?

[Aaron Poling]

I consider a town home a single family home but you would want to check with your county to see how they define it. If they are going to be required to pay for it, I would be very up front with them and explain the situation. I would then follow up with everything in writing to them, so you can prove they were notified. 

Good Luck!