Understanding California Pest Control Laws for Rental Properties
Whether you own your home or are renting a place, one thing’s for certain: you don’t need any pests freeloading under your roof. As a homeowner, taking care of your home and yard ultimately falls to you, but as a renter, identifying who’s responsible can get a little tricky when it comes to repairs, maintenance, and pest control.
Whether landlords or tenants are responsible for pest control may depend on where you live. And that brings us to the big question: If you live in Santa Clarita, is your landlord responsible for your pest control? The short answer is yes: California landlords are wholly responsible for pest control…with certain financial exceptions.
Today, the Santa Clarita pest control experts at No Bugs will explain the legal gray areas of California’s pest control laws and how you can keep the bugs and rodents away from your Santa Clarita rental property!
Contact the No Bugs office at (661) 294-0260 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a treatment that protects your rental property from ants, cockroaches, rodents, and other common household pests.
Are Landlords or Tenants Responsible for Pest Control in California?
According to California housing laws, landlords are responsible for pest control in California – again, with a financial caveat – since they bear the responsibility of maintaining habitable conditions on the property.
This policy applies to the following rental properties and more:
- Apartments
- Single-family Homes
- Multi-Tenant Buildings
- Vacation Properties (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
- Condominiums
- Townhomes
But here’s where it can get tricky: A renter can be held financially responsible for the cost of pest control if their actions, habits, or living conditions are responsible for the pest infestation.
Dealing with pests can be difficult because it’s not uncommon for landlords to claim the pests were caused or brought into the property by a tenant. Likewise, the tenant can counter that the pests are present due to the landlord’s failure to maintain the property.
Oftentimes, both parties have a valid case, but it’s essential to clarify issues like this before a tenant moves in to avoid dispute.
Landlord Responsibilities for Pest Control & Termites
When it comes to pest control, landlord responsibilities vary by state. According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, landlords or property managers must keep their buildings habitable, which in legal terms means the rental unit is fit for occupation by human beings and that it substantially complies with state and local building and health codes that materially affect tenants’ health and safety. Current or ongoing pest infestations – whether of rodents, insects, birds, or other types of pests – render a property uninhabitable.
It’s always the landlord’s job to make sure pests are swiftly, safely, and thoroughly eliminated, even if a tenant causes a pest infestation with their living conditions and can be held financially accountable.
Landlords can do some things on their own to prevent infestations, such as sealing cracks and gaps, keeping the premises clean, and attending to maintenance issues swiftly. But typically, the most reliable way is to hire a reputable pest control service to keep the property habitable and pest-free.
Steps a landlord should take to keep their property habitable for a tenant:
- Hire a professional pest control company for ongoing treatments and emergency services.
- Complete a thorough inspection of the property before a new tenant moves in.
- Fix issues that might expose the home to pest invasions, like openings in doors and windows, cracks in walls, torn screens, broken seals, and other potential access points.
- Take immediate and appropriate action when a tenant reports a pest problem.
One way to avoid tenant confusion and conflict is to include a pest control addendum in the rental agreement. This signed document should clearly state your obligations, the tenant’s responsibilities, proactive steps both parties will take to prevent infestations, and a plan of action for when the tenant starts noticing pest activity. It should also detail the tenant’s financial obligations should there be evidence that their actions may have caused the infestation.
Tenant Responsibilities for Pest Control
Have you started noticing pests in your rental property? Don’t worry – your landlord is responsible for arranging and paying for pest control. However, the onus falls on you to keep a clean home and contact the landlord ASAP if you’re concerned about an existing or potential infestation.
Pests that frequently infest Santa Clarita rental properties include, but are not limited to:
- Cockroaches
- Rodents
- Spiders
- Ants
- Bed Bugs
- Termites
Per California Civil Code Section 1941.2, a tenant is responsible for pest control if their actions make the property inhabitable.
Tenant habits that could result in a pest infestation include:
- Failure to adhere to and maintain proper sanitary conditions, such as failure to cover garbage bins, leaving food uncovered in the kitchen or pantry, or not properly disposing of the garbage per the waste collection rules of the community.
- Creating conditions within the property that allows for stagnant water to accumulate.
- Damaging the property and creating access points for pests.
- Not reporting property damage that could result in a pest infestation.
- A flea infestation due to the tenant’s pet.
- Failure to promptly report pest activity to the landlord.
No Bugs: Your Partner in Pest Control
Pest management is crucial for the safety of your tenants and the structural integrity of your property. Call the Santa Clarita pest control experts at No Bugs Termite and Pest Control Inc. to ensure your rental property remains safe and pest-free for your tenants. Our local technicians are only minutes away from inspecting and treating your pest emergency. And if a new tenant is planning to move in, we can examine the property, identify potential problem areas, and complete a treatment that eliminates any issues.
We offer local, affordable, and more organic pest control options to the residents of Santa Clarita and many surrounding areas. Our proprietary treatment methods utilize natural essential oils and fewer synthetic pesticides to protect your property from ants, cockroaches, spiders, aphids, and other common household pests.
Dial (661) 294-0206 to schedule a free consultation with our Santa Clarita pest control experts. Our team can inspect and treat your rental property for pests that may be harmful to the health and safety of your tenants.
