Updated almost 5 years ago on . Most recent reply
Hoarder tenant complaining of mice in unit.
I have an owner occupied duplex with tenants who are hoarders, with a lot of that hoarding being used food/drink containers. As a neighborly gesture I supplied a few traps available from most stores. As a Landlord I did my best to bite my tongue in pointing out that their general lack of cleanliness is the actual problem. Now, after another couple sightings, they are asking if I will pay for an exterminator.
I'm going to thicken the plot here by mentioning I was recently told the lease (containing no mention of pest control) that I have is one of the cookie cutter types available through Avail that I then added too thus making it highly suspect. I do plan on rectifying this ASAP.
As far as handling this situation, being new to Land-lording and not wanting to broach some obscure legal clause, I'm wondering what my best course of action is here. My impulse is to say something to the effect of, "I'm happy to supply another round of store bought traps, but should you feel that insufficient, then hiring and paying an exterminator is a step that you can take on your own behalf." Additionally I would like to hint that this is a "If You Build It They Will Come" situation, and that the most important step is to remove "reasons" (ie. used food containers laying around the house). So boiled down, if I'm erring on the side of passing along information, as apposed to judgment, can I legally say that the place needs to be cleaned?
** I have yet to have any mice sightings in my half of the duplex.**