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Beverly Caswell
  • Owosso, MI
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who is responsible for insect infestation

Beverly Caswell
  • Owosso, MI
Posted Jul 20 2022, 09:02

Who is responsible for insects in a single family home in owosso michigan?  Possibly mites, fleas, no see ums?  Who knows!

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Sergey A. Petrov
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Seattle, WA
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Sergey A. Petrov
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Seattle, WA
Replied Jul 20 2022, 11:57

Mother nature is responsible for all that. Reasonable steps however should be taken to minimize the intrusion into the house. A recurring service contract with a pest control company will accomplish that. The landlord can decide who pays for it (owner or tenant) similarly to a landscape maintenance service.

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Nathan Gesner
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cody, WY
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Nathan Gesner
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cody, WY
ModeratorReplied Jul 20 2022, 15:04
Quote from @Beverly Caswell:

Who is responsible for insects in a single family home in owosso michigan?  Possibly mites, fleas, no see ums?  Who knows!


Your lease should spell this out. Typically, the tenant is responsible for ordinary pest control. They can swat flys, put down ant bait stations, or set a mouse trap. I only pay if there is an unusual infestation that requires professional treatment and if I can verify that it was not caused by the Tenants lack of proper house cleaning.

  • Property Manager Wyoming (#12599)

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David Lee Hall, III
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
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David Lee Hall, III
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
Replied Jul 20 2022, 19:31

My lease specifically addresses this. If in the first 30 days it is my responsibility. If after 30 days it is the tenant. What does your lease say?

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Drew Sygit
Property Manager
#2 Managing Your Property Contributor
  • Property Manager
  • Royal Oak, MI
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Drew Sygit
Property Manager
#2 Managing Your Property Contributor
  • Property Manager
  • Royal Oak, MI
Replied Jul 21 2022, 09:18

Our lease also states tenant responsible after the initial 30-days.

Understand, if it goes to court a judge may still rule against a landlord and require them to address the issue. Then you can try to collect against tenant.

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Chris Seveney
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  • Investor
  • Virginia
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Chris Seveney
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Replied Jul 21 2022, 16:42

@Drew Sygit

Question I would ask also is how did they get there? Do they keep place clean or no?

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Drew Sygit
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  • Royal Oak, MI
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Drew Sygit
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  • Property Manager
  • Royal Oak, MI
Replied Jul 22 2022, 05:17

@Chris Seveney we won a case like that! Tenant claimed bedbugs came from a vacant lot next door!

We've also lost a case or two where judge was way too tenant-friendly:(