Do you hire an exterminator?

[Divya Sharma]

Hi good people. Our tenant is asking for a different exterminator because she is not happy with one we are using.  My question is,  if there are ants after the first treatment/first visit, can she legally ask for a new pest control? The pest control that we use said they will come back and treat the ants again. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. This is in Chicago.

[Scott M.]

While I do not have any idea about the laws in Chicago I can tell you this is a great clause to add to your lease.  Doesn't help you today, but can down the road.  

We have seen hundreds and hundreds of leases and everyone handles pests differently. Some say they will cover the cost, some say they never will, some say they will if owner caused but won't if tenant caused.  Take for example a tenant who lives in a home for 2 years and then says hey, there is a bad ant problem.  Doubtful the owner caused this.  Not proof the tenant did, but doubtful the owner did. Also pest control companies often have before/after treatment rules.  Our companies will report to us if the tenant is living up to their end of the bargain, if not, we stop treatment and it is on the tenant.  But our lease allows for this.  Also allows for if we are paying, we decide who.  You can decide who, but you pay.  

The lease is the roadmap.  When you learn little lessons like this, always update your lease.