Re: bedbugs - Landlord Forum thread 354552

Re: bedbugs by Garry (Iowa) on October 9, 2017 @17:32

First, check with your state's LL/T laws, and your local city's laws, to see how they address the extermination of pests. Some states and cities say the LL is responsible for all the extermination of them, no matter what they are, or how they got there. Others say it could be either the LL or the T that is responsible for their removal, depending on the circumstances of how they got there, and how long they have been there---(and also if it's a SFH vs a multiplex building.) In my city, in a SFH, if the tenant has been there for 6 months with no complaints of any pests, and then somehow some pests get in, the renter is responsible for their removal, at their expense.
You first need to know your laws, before you can address the problem with your T. However, since it is your property that the bedbugs will stay in, after your Ts have left, you should at least go and get a gallon of bedbug spray, and give it to the Ts to use. Tell them to read the label on how to use the spray, and let them use it when they need to. It won't kill all of them, but it will hold their numbers down. Lowe's , Home Depot, Ace hardware, etc have the gal. of spray, at about $15-$20/ gal. So even buying a gal. per month won't be too much out of your pocket.

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Re: bedbugs by Anonymous on October 11, 2017 @12:25	[ Reply ]

Giving tenants pesticide chemicals? Who in their right mind would assume liability by giving tenants pesticides? A gallon per month also? I believe that the level of being exposed to chemical pesticide would exceed state and federal laws after one or two gallons! Wonder if a landlords insurance would cover tenants getting sick from chemicals that the landlord supplied? Sounds like very bad advice that exposes the landlord to great liability and maybe criminal charges for unlicensed distribution of pesticides. IMHO this advice sucks!

Re: bedbugs by Garry (Iowa) on October 11, 2017 @13:47	[ Reply ]

IMHO------YOU'RE JUST PLAIN WRONG!!! The "chemicals" I'm talking about are brand-name products put out by Ortho, Bayer, Hot Shot, Raid, etc. and are sold all over the country by Walmart, Sears, Home Depot, Lowe's K-Mart, Ace Hardware, Etc. ANYBODY can buy them, and millions of people do, and use them in their own homes, apartments, and businesses, even if children and pets are present. A 10 year-old child can walk into any store, pay cash, and walk out with a gallon jug of those "chemicals" in each hand, with no questions asked. AND I DID SAY TO TELL THE TENANTS TO READ THE LABELS FIRST before applying the product. Cleaning products are the same way. ANYBODY can buy and use them. But used the WRONG way, they can kill you.

Re: bedbugs by Anonymous on October 11, 2017 @15:00	[ Reply ]

What an absolute ass you are. They just gave their opinion just like you! Here you are yelling how wrong they are and that the chemicals are safe. Maybe you don't understand, many states restrict the landlord to only applying chemicals to their own abode and require a license or a licensed applicator to apply them. I know that in two states, the landlord is required to be a licensed applicator to apply pesticides in any residential dwelling. You sure as hell don't know what state their in nor what their state law requires! So your humble opinion is just wrong. Also check with your insurance company and see if they cover you for supplying tenants with pesticide chemicals no matter how safe you claim they are. Health codes also apply with using pesticide chemicals, which the landlord could also violate. Please stop showing just how ignorant some landlords can be!

Re: bedbugs

Re: bedbugs by Anonymous on October 11, 2017 @15:13	[ Reply ]

I am sorry, but you sound naive. It is not unusual at all for the leases for single family home rentals to say that insect control is the tenant's responsibility; and if a landlord has insect treatments that he has found to be effective, I think it is pretty darn generous for him to give some to the tenants instead of them having to buy them (which the lease actually says they are responsible for)...and of course, you tell them to read the labels and ask questions. So many tenants are inexperienced in how to upkeep homes because they are used to being in rentals. Nudging them in the right direction is to their benefit as well as the landlords. Why would you assume that a landlord would give commercial grade chemicals instead of those purchased at a store? I agree that giving this sort of thing to tenants even with a warning is not a good idea. These types of chemicals do tend to have a much higher chance of causing injury if not handled properly (such as by a licensed pro). And where are you getting your information regarding a 1 to 2 gallon cap on distribution of all pesticides? I bet the farmers would be quite surprised by your information.