Tenant with Bugs- Help!

[Kaybreh Mathis]

Hello! I just got a call from a new tenant this morning. She moved in two months ago and the apartment was clean. She told me today that she’s dropped $100 trying to get rid of roaches, bedbugs, and springtails (which I think might be fleas) but that the problem is getting worse. How do you proceed from here? We just bought the building so the lease is under her previous landlord and he didn’t make any stipulations regarding things like this. Obviously I want the unit cleaned. Do I call an exterminator and bill her? Pay for it myself? Can I even ask her to pay for it if the old lease doesn’t mention anything like that? I appreciate any advice. Thanks!

[Account Closed]

Various bugs, insects (pests) exist everywhere.  To follow the message from @Jill F., what does the lease say about it?  My leases contains a clause that within thirty (30) days of occupancy, if the premises has pests the landlord will arrange for and pay for the initial pest control spraying and the tenant agrees to pay for the ongoing monthly pest control spraying fees.  Landlords cannot control how clean a tenant lives.  The first thirty days treatment provides a clean, pest free, home for the tenants and it is their responsibility to maintain the premises, including pest control. If the property has pests when the tenant moves out, the treatment expense is deducted from their security deposit.

Granted, if this is a multi-unit it is difficult to pinpoint which unit is the cause of drawing in the pests.  In this situation I would protect my property and have all the units treated. If you find re-occurrences in a particular unit then you can address that one-on-one with the respective tenant.

Finally, it is prudent for me to add that you always check your state tenant-landlord laws and make sure you abide by them accordingly.