Pest Control – Landlord or Tenant Responsibility?

Tenant Responsibility

As a tenant, you are required to keep your premises free of pests by keeping it clean and addressing a pest problem immediately. Basic cleanliness includes storing your food properly, not leaving used dishes and kitchenware overnight and throwing your garbage regularly. You can also set mouse traps or use insect sprays or baits, as you see fit.

But if the infestation becomes worst and you think that the infestation was there before you moved in, inform the landlord or property manager immediately. If the landlord says that you must deal with the problem, seek the advice of Queensland’s Residential Tenancies Authority.

Before calling for a  residential pest control service, speak to your landlord to settle which party will shoulder the payment.

It is the landlord’s responsibility to fix any existing pest issues before signing up a tenant. The best thing to do is to conduct a pest inspection of the rental property, so that the responsible party will be clear if an infestation does occur later in the tenancy.

It is also highly recommended for landlords to adding pest clause in the lease agreement, especially if the tenant has pests, to ensure fumigation is done at the end of the lease.

The landlord is typically responsible for making sure ants, wasps, cockroaches, bedbugs, and other vermin are not present when the tenants move in and that birds or possums are not nesting in any part of the house. In the case of termites, it is the responsibility of landlord regardless of when the infestation occurs.

Landlord Responsibility

It is the landlord’s responsibility to fix any existing pest issues before signing up a tenant. The best thing to do is to conduct a pest inspection of the rental property, so that the responsible party will be clear if an infestation does occur later in the tenancy.

It is also highly recommended for landlords to adding pest clause in the lease agreement, especially if the tenant has pests, to ensure fumigation is done at the end of the lease.

The landlord is typically responsible for making sure ants, wasps, cockroaches, bedbugs, and other vermin are not present when the tenants move in and that birds or possums are not nesting in any part of the house. In the case of termites, it is the responsibility of landlord regardless of when the infestation occurs.

Pest Control in Queensland

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 provides rules and regulations covering pest control in rented properties.

If the house was pest-free at the beginning of the tenancy, the renter has the duty to make sure the property is in its original condition at the end of the tenancy.

However, the landlord cannot obligate the renter to meet certain requirements, including:

• Vacate the house in a better condition than it was in on the first day the tenant moved in.
• Hire a pest control company chosen by the landlord
• Pay a set fee for a pest control service.
• Utilise a pest control product specified by the landlord.