Who's Responsible the Tenant or Landlord?

Question

My tenants called me the other day saying they had maggots on their ceiling. I found out these types of maggots come in from grocery stores and are found in wheat and grain products. I have to have an exterminator treat the property. Can I charge the tenants for the cost of treatment or do I have to take on this cost?

Mindy Jensen · Answer

@Peter Pezzano , this is a disgusting problem. I'm gagging right now.

I've had those problems, too. I call them cardboard moths, because yes, they seem to come into the home from the grocery store in the cardboard boxes. I had to throw away a ton of food because of them, and lived with everything in ziploc baggies for months.

If these tenants just moved in, I'd eat the cost of the exterminator. If they've been there for more than 90 days, unless it's something dead in the attic, I'd bill them for it.

Does your lease address extermination?

Andrew B. · Answer

I would have a professional come out and then discuss with them what the cause could be. if he determines the cause is tenant actions and you have something in your lease specifying that pest control is tenant liability, bill back to them. if it is not tenant actions, then pay.

Deanna McCormick · Answer

Dead squirrel in attic ?? dead bats?? dead birds???

find the source for sure,,

We had maggots  in ceiling fan bathroom,,,,, found a dead squirrel in crawl space,, flies laid eggs,, maggots hatched.. it happens..

Kim Meredith Hampton · Answer

Peter,

Did these tenants just move in? Is there a leak from the roof or upstairs condo/apartment? There has to something else going on to hand this sort of problem.

They may be moths and not maggots. They do like food (rotting food or pet food). I would go and visit with a pest control guy

Mike H. · Answer

Maggots on the ceiling? How do they get up there? Are they tiny little fly like things? Unless you have something going on upstairs with say a drain or something, I don't see how that could be your issue. Its no different if they let mosquitoes or something in.

For me, I put in my lease that the tenant is responsible for ALL insect/bug exterminator issues except termites. Termites are house related. But flies, ants, etc, are tenant related.

I guess the other question I have is whether you have to exterminate for maggots. Can't you just wipe the ceiling? I'm struggling to understand how maggots can be on a ceiling to begin with. I picture maggots as little tiny worms or something. How do worms end up on the ceiling?

Never heard of anything like it. But am curious to hear what the solution ends up being.

btw: One other thing. If you don't have the bug thing in your lease AND if the tenants are good tenants - go ahead and pay the cost of the exterminator. Its going to be pretty cheap so why create any issues?

Who's Responsible the Tenant or Landlord?

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