How to Keep Rental Properties Pest Free

Property owners have a lot of responsibilities. Every apartment, condominium, or house they own must stay clean and safe for their tenants. One of the most concerning issues is pest control because of the damage pests cause to property and the diseases they could spread.

Here are some tips that could help you prevent pest infestations at your rental property in Riverside or San Bernardino counties.

Improve Trash Removal Services

Supply an adequate size and number of dumpsters for tenant use and have the bins emptied as often as needed to prevent loose trash. Make certain all trash cans and dumpsters have lids and enclose dumpsters in a secured area to reduce wildlife access. Have plenty of garbage cans inside and out in community areas to prevent littering, and change the bags often.

Install garbage chutes when possible in buildings with more than two or three levels to encourage tenant participation. Property managers should collect trash from any of their tenants with mobility issues or other health problems that prevent them from disposing of their garbage regularly.

Hire Professional House Cleaners

Hire a professional cleaning service every time an apartment or home is empty, and request the service perform a deep cleaning. The cleaning team may remove any property left behind by a prior tenant, but, depending on the service, the property manager may be responsible for this task.

Store any items in a separate storage unit until the tenant receives a notice to remove the items or the law allows disposal or sale of the belongings.

The cleaning service should clean behind and underneath all appliances and deep clean any carpeting in the rental property. Ask for notification if the team notices any pests or signs of infestation in the property so one of our pest control technicians can come in before renting the property again.

Schedule Regular Pest Treatment

Review your pest control needs with us and we can work with you to determine the most effective schedule that is best for the number of residents living in the building and the size and location of the property. The population in the area, the proximity to restaurants and other commercial properties, and the number of trees and fields nearby can all play a role in the infestation risk.

Include information in the lease agreement about regular pest treatments and the responsibilities of the tenant during these events. The tenant may need to remove pets for the day, remove or cover food or make other adjustments based on the type of fumigation. Always give all residents a reminder a few days before the pest service arrives.

Create Strict Pet Policies

A no-pets policy is best for cutting the risk of fleas and ticks, but this policy can make finding new tenants difficult. Many property owners prefer to allow pets if the tenants follow the rules. All applicants should supply proof of vaccinations and flea and tick preventatives for their pets.

Try to limit the agreement to animals that will not run off and create infestation problems on their own. Rats and mice are common escapees that breed quickly and can cause an infestation in a matter of weeks.

Other escaped pets like tarantulas or large snakes can become a concern for other tenants when they escape, even if they don’t breed as quickly.

Property owners have a limited amount of control because California rental laws do not allow inspections to ensure the tenants follow the rules. This lack of inspecting each unit regularly is why it is important to make certain to use pest management services. At Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc. , we can help your rental units remain pest free. Contact us to learn more.