Help! Cockroaches infestation on multi-unit.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I purchased a 3-unit property about a year and a half ago. After consulting with the agent and experts, I decided to purchased the property, as I figured it would not be hard to get rid of the issue, and the tenants stated that it was the first time it has happened (so it was not a years long issue) . In fact, it wasn't very difficult. After 3 visit, a pest control guy was able to get rid of the issue. I was told that there were no cockroaches for a whole year after.

However, the issue has come back. I spoke to the pest control guy and confirmed through research, and these german cockroaches don't just "get in" (they don't live outdoors in CT), they are brought in through hatchhicking. So I know that this is a tenant issue. I had already spoken to the tenants the first time to keep things clean, food away. I don't know that I cannot do more about changing their behavior. The first floor tenant is a new tenant and is the cleanest. I know they are definitely not the issue. So that leaves me the second and third floor tenants.

I would feel bad about evicting them, but would do so if necessary. They have both been living at the property over 10 years and are really nice people, though I cannot say they are the cleanest. One of them (third floor) doesn't really cook  as they are younger working guys (I don't know exactly what they do for work). The other (second floor) does cook, they are a couple that work in landscaping and at a laundromat (not places where I would think german cockroaches would wander). Neither are clean despite my recommendations and asking for their cooperation.

What should I do in this situation? There is no way to know where the infestation starts and I would feel really bad evicting either of them. Should I do a coin toss and evict one of them regardless? Should I give them one more chance, hire a pest control guy again and ask them to cooperate? Should I get used to it and budget for hiring pest control guy every year or so?

[Nicholas L.]

@Alex Rodriguez

hire a property manager