Tenants moving out due to roaches

Tenants moving out due to roaches

Cole Camp, MO · Member since 2018 · 23 posts · 2 votes

My tenants called today informing me they are breaking their lease and moving out.  They moved in around February of this year.  I had the rental professional sprayed before move in.  A 3 or so weeks after they told me roaches were there.  I called pest control immediately.  They sprayed. They said they woild need a follow up in two weeks. My tenant went into premature labor and was gone for a month. I wasn't able to do the follow up, i even askerthe husband tenant while she was in the hospital if we could spray before the baby got home. He said he wouldn't have time.   They get home and of course the roaches are back.  I called and the pest control came yesterday.  They had been staying at a family's place while it was getting taken care of.  They haven't even been back to the rental since it was sprayed when they called me today. I told them I understood and they demanded their rent of June back and deposit. I told them I could not give deposit back bevause I've noticed a lot of things I'll need to replace last time I was in there.  Am i doing the right thing by giving them all of this month's rent back and no deposit? I don't understand because I tried to rectify the problem as much as possible by being on top of it and calling as soon as I knew.  Thoughts on the whole situation? I feel horrible about the roaches.

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Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
8y

I prefer to do month to month leases, so I would have told them to give me proper notice (30 days before the rent is due, per lease and CO law) and they could leave with no problem.  But if they choose to break a longer lease or don't get proper notice, I'm not going to give them a break.  With this happening yesterday my response would be "No, I will not give you June rent back.  Further, July rent is due on July 1.  And you're breaking the lease and my fee for doing that is equal to the deposit.  You'll be getting a bill for any damages."  And if I did not get July rent they would get a pay or quit on July 5.

Its very likely the roach problem is, at least in part, being caused by them.  Messiness attracts roaches.  I grew up in MO, on the other side of Lake of the Ozarks from you.  My mom was (and is) meticulous and we never had a roach problem.  Unless these something nearby that's generating roaches, its probably your tenants lack of cleanliness that's attracting them.  I would suspect they just don't like the place and this is an excuse for leaving.

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  • Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    7y

    My last tenants brought in German cockroaches.I advised her to use harris cockroach tablets and roach motels.I advised her to set off bug bombs.I left4 in linen closet.she left keys Sept 10 and packed up a airstream trailer.She said she might have to rent a truck and return as garage was half full w cardboard a big bags garbage.3 cans of recycles and garbage.A compresser grease rags.Tenants broke up husband left for Vegas in beginning of Aug.He called me Aug 30 and verbally gave 30 day notice and by text.Previous tenants lease expired oct1 2018.House was not left clean as I had 3 girls cleaning before aswell as myself.I have a cleaning service.HOUSE WAS PRISTINE WINDOWS AND SCREENS CLEAN.Refrigerator was full aswell as pantry.empty bottles and jar of grease as well as a pot of slimy water left under sink.while female tenant was recovering from surgery in Palm springs ca.I had to go water 3 stainless steel troughs w bamboo as heat was causing bamboo to die.Female tenant had a infection from surgery. I offered to help remove trash recycles compresser cardboard remove left over items from refrigerator and pantry.She never returned so I hired a friend w truck to take to town dump.I drive a suburu and didn't have space to haul garbage.I had to repair split on inside of front door punch hole in hallway that was taped over.1 cat turned into4 so I had to wipe white silkey hair out of floor ventsalso vacume litter clean out garage refrigrater wipe and remove leftover stuff in drawers.Me rental had to set off 5 bugs bombs before she could sleep in home.I was quoted$800 for assurant pest controll to travel to sheltercove.I live in a rural area by the coast.I am ordering natural pest controll products and will hire a friend to spray.Northern calif doesn't have roaches so last tenants brought in.Last tenants are threatening me w lawyer if I don't return full deposit1800.I silent 15 hours doing repairs due to damage.I also had new tenants internet installer remove part from dish to mail to last tenants.Previous female tenant said they had that set up but new tenants have dogs in back yard.Also No one contacted me from previous renters about scheduling part removal.So as a courtesy I will mail back to Vegas and keep receipt.I am getting threatening texts demanding full deposit.Also they say I owe back rent from Sept 10 to Oct 1 but they didn't return to get what was left for me to deal with.I am cleaning vacation rentals and am still getting a list of damages.I'm ordering natural German cockroachkit online will arrive 2 days shipping cost 29 plus products gonna run another100.

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