Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2016 · 736 posts · 582 votes
9y
Depends on my proximity to the rental. If I were close by, I'd spend the $5-$7 on a can of wasp spray and use it as an opportunity to inspect the house and make sure it's being kept up according to the lease.
If it were a rental that I wasn't that close to, I'd let the property manager handle it :)
La Mirada, CA · Member since 2017 · 33 posts · 11 votes
9y
I've seen a lot of people who have their leases state something like "After 30 days, tenant is responsible for pest control" (was in a thread regarding possums)
Does your lease say anything about that?
If I were in the position, I'd probably do like the above poster said, buy some wasp spray, check out the place while you are inside, and spray those buggers. Then in a day or so when they are all dead, tenant can knock the hive down and throw it away
China, ME · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
9y
@Steve S. Wasp spray. No need to let a $10.00 problem escalate. If you can get to it spray them.
Pro Tip: If they get inside the house, starting fluid (CAUTION - it's ether and highly flammable) will instantly knock them down before they sting. Just a little spritz in a well ventilated room. You can just sweep them out the door before applying the toxic wasp spray in the kitchen.
Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 37 posts · 15 votes
9y
I wouldn't want the tenants to handle something like that themselves, especially if they've reach out to you already.
Here's what I would do:
If you have a PM - have the PM handle, which is most likely to contact a professional
If you don't have a PM, see below:
Get details and assess the severity of the situation:
How large is the nest? Ask for a photo if you're unable to see for yourself AND if it is safe and possible for the tenant to do so
Where is it located in relations to the home?
Contact professional dependent on the severity, OR like @Account Closed mentioned you have the option of handling the situation yourself if you're nearby.
San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
9y
Unless you want to go spray the wasp nest yourself, just hire pest control and take the deduction when you file your taxes.
As mentioned above, if a tenant has made you aware of the problem and you don't deal with it - or put yourself in a position to show that you did do a reasonable attempt to fix the problem - you can be liable if somebody's kid ends up in the hospital, etc.
Wasps are really bad here in the SF Bay Area this summer. I had some persist on building nests on the awnings over my windows of my apartment. I kept spraying them with ammonia (cheap way to deal with them), but they kept coming back and starting again. So, I finally mentioned it to management. They have pest control under contract, so the guy came and sprayed something that has kept them from coming back. He also put up some traps around the property. But, whatever he sprayed must completely knock out any scent they leave for other wasps to find, because they completely disappeared and they were a constant problem before - no matter how many I killed, more kept coming, until the magic, toxic stuff got sprayed on their spots.
I'm afraid to learn what that stuff is, lol, but I'm really glad they're gone. It was scary going out on my balcony for me and my dog.