Who pays pest control when renting?

If you are renting a property, you will want to make sure that you are well-versed in the laws surrounding your property and your rights.

No one wants a pest infestation in their home, but unfortunately, it can happen, especially in Australia.

Some of the most common types of pests include:

- Fleas

- Ants

- Cockroaches

- Spiders

- Snakes

- Rats and mice

- Bees and wasps

If you have a pest infestation in your rented home, it can be an incredibly annoying and unsafe issue. Pests bring dirt and diseases, which can cause health and safety issues.

Therefore, the first thing you need to do is call a pest control specialist who will quickly and efficiently remove all pests from your home, ensuring that you and your family are safe.

If you are renting a property and have an infestation, here’s what you need to know.

Who’s Responsibility is a Pest Infestation?

This is a complex issue, and it is not clear cut who is responsible when there is an infestation in a rented property.

Check Your Tenancy Agreement

The first step in working out who has to pay for pest control is to check your lease agreement. Some tenancy agreements will contain clauses about pest control. If yours does have a clause about pest control, this should tell you whether or not you are liable to pay for pest control when renting.

Check The Residential Tenancies Act

If you have a pest problem on your property and you can’t find the answer in your tenancy agreement, you should take a look at the residential tenancies act of 1997. In this, it states that ‘the tenant must take reasonable care of the premises and keep the premises reasonably clean’. 

This means that it is your legal responsibility to keep the house in good order. If pests have come into your home as a result of your negligence or carelessness, it will ultimately be your responsibility to solve the problem.

However, if the pest issue is in no way your fault, the general rule is that your landlord should pay to sort out the problem. If your home has rats, mice or termites, it will almost certainly be your landlord’s responsibility to pay for pest control. This is because your landlord has a legal obligation to keep your home working and in good condition. 

The only instance where your landlord won’t have to pay is if the rat, mice or termite infection has been caused by your lack of cleanliness. 

Call Our Expert Pest Control Specialist in Toowoomba

If you have a pest issue in your home, the first thing you should do is call your landlord to discuss your options.

They should then call a pest control company for you to solve the problem.

However, if the pest infestation is your fault, you should call a pest control company like Pest Control Toowoomba today on 1800 880 500.