Tenant complaining of cockroaches just after moving in...we've NEVER had them!

[Jim Bouchard]

Good morning!

We just had a tenant move into one of our apartments July 1. She sent a text this morning (July 8) saying she saw two cockroaches in the kitchen. She was "horrified and couldn't sleep."

We lived in that house for almost 30 years prior to returning it to a rental property and we've NEVER had cockroaches of any kind.
I'm wondering if they might have come in on some of her moving boxes.

Regardless, we have a pest control contract in place, and I've already contacted my technician.

Should we be worried about this tenant, or am I just over-reacting?  She breezed through her application, has great references and credit score, had already paid her July rent/security deposit, has insurance in place, and is set up for auto-pay going forward.

Thanks for your insights!

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Jim Bouchard:

You are probably overreacting. They could have come in with the moving boxes, which is the most likely culprit, but they could have snuck in some other way.

My lease says I will deliver the home pest-free and handle any pest treatment for the first two weeks in case we miss something. After that, the tenant takes responsibility for pest control. 

I would let them know you personally lived there for 30 years and never had a single cockroach, so she probably brought it in with her. Offer to handle the first treatment, then it's on her after that.

[Theresa Harris]

I agree with Nathan. 

[Jim Bouchard]

@Nathan Gesner Thanks for that.  I did text her saying we'd lived there without any evidence of cockroaches, and did suggest perhaps they came in on her moving boxes. She responded saying she thought the same. I contacted our pest control folks and told her I did so.  I will offer the first treatment on us. 

Here's what ME lease agreement stipulates for pests:

(F) Pest control, after the first ten (10) days of the Term of this Lease, shall be the sole responsibility of the Tenant, including, without limitation, prevention and remediation. Tenant shall keep the Premises free of all pests, including without limitation, rodents, fleas, bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, gnats, flies, and beetles. Tenant shall pay for all costs associated with remediating pests from the Premises and shall inform Landlord at first sighting of any pests in order to avoid any infestation of pests. In signing this Lease, Tenant agrees that Tenant has examined the Premises and certifies that it has not observed any pests in the Premises. A tenant shall promptly notify a landlord when the tenant knows of or suspects an infestation of bedbugs in the tenant's dwelling unit.

I like the idea of adding a clause saying "we'll deliver the home pest free and and handle pest treatment for the first two weeks"...would you mind sharing what you have in your lease?

[Matt Moore]

In Florida, two roaches are nothing to be concerned with. They can be managed with continual bug control and are rarely seen. However, without bug control measures, they can get out of control.  Others stated that they could have been brought in with the move.  

In my leases, pest control is the responsibility of the tenant.