Re: Tenant wants to break lease due to ant problem

Re: Tenant wants to break lease due to ant problem by Micah on March 23, 2009 @18:32

Here is what you do. Go to Lowes or Home Depot. Head into the garden department. There should be an aisle of pest control products. Buy a can of Raid for ants and a big gallon sprayer of a home barrier guard to spray outdoors on your foundation. It should cost about 22 bucks or so. Spend one 1/2 hour at the property and spray. This stuff is stronger than 99% of what the exterminators will use (OSHA standards). Then tell the tenants to wash the floors and surfaces so the ants won't have a reason to come back.

[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: Tenant wants to break lease due to ant problem by Mel (Fl) on August 20, 2009 @22:15	[ Reply ]

Clearly most of those who replied aren't familiar with Pharaoh ants. They can live inside of a structure (e.g. Apt) for great lengths, trailing into the dwelling to find food in cupboards and sealed containers, and seeking water in toilets and shower/sink drains. They're persistent and move in great numbers. Spraying with pesticides in such a situation is the worst thing to do, as the hive, being disrupted, will then split into multiple hives, and travel to new areas in the structure. This will only magnify the problem. There is no bandaid solution. Long term (months to years) treatment of the entire structure is the likely solution. And this undertaking would most likely make for an undesireable living environment. A situation like this should be avoidable with consistent, thorough pest control. Sadly, many LLs take shortcuts, ultimately leading to an even larger financial investment, as well as the loss of good tenants. Good luck.

Re: Tenant wants to break lease due to ant problem - Landlord Forum thread 175719