Re: Termites - Landlord Forum thread 255796

Re: Termites by Anna Mouse on May 21, 2012 @13:01

This is what I found after an easy search:

83.51. Landlord's obligation to maintain premises

(2)(a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, in addition to the requirements of subsection (1), the landlord of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex shall, at all times during the tenancy, make reasonable provisions for:

1. The extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs. When vacation of the premises is required for such extermination, the landlord shall not be liable for damages but shall abate the rent. The tenant shall be required to temporarily vacate the premises for a period of time not to exceed 4 days, on 7 days' written notice, if necessary, for extermination pursuant to this subparagraph

Not sure but seems the way I read it that it is the LL's responsibility unless it is stated in the lease otherwise?

[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: Termites by Eloise (FL) on May 21, 2012 @13:23	[ Reply ]

Thank you Anna, I think you are correct, in my friend's case, she is responsible for termite control. Because 1. the house is a single family home, and 2, it is written in her lease. It's strange because the place was already infested with termites when she moved in, not sure what is going on there but I will pass the info on to her. It seems to me that if she did not mention it to the LL when she moved in, then she's on the hook for termite infestation, my best guess.

Re: Termites by Shaun (FL) on May 21, 2012 @13:36	[ Reply ]

Pest Control is the LL's responsibility UNLESS it is a SFH and if it is a SFH the LL can include some pest control responsibilities in the lease. Which only makes logical sense. In an apartment complex roaches could come from a "wall or floor neighbor", whereas in a SFH roaches are directly cause by the tenant. FYI...Recent learning for me...There are two types of "german roaches". Actually the one inside are german roaches, but there is a roach that looks just like the inside one but lives outside. The inside ones can not live outside and the outside ones can not live inside. So the next time a tenant tries to tell you that the Roach infestation is because the backdoor is warped or a window doesn't shut completely WRONG!!!

Re: Termites by Nicole (PA) on May 21, 2012 @14:44	[ Reply ]

...1), the landlord of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex shall, at all times during the tenancy, make reasonable provisions for: 1. The extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs... Sure glad I don't live in Florida. Why in the world is it the landlord's responsibility if a tenant buys a used sofa (or picks one up on the curb somewhere !!) and brings bedbugs into the property? Ants? If their housekeeping is atrocious and ants come waltzing in, I'm sure not paying to get rid of them - they'll be back next week again when the trash isn't put out or spills wiped up. If it's bug free when they move in, it better remain bug free.

Re: Termites by Douglas on May 21, 2012 @15:36	[ Reply ]

"Why in the world is it the landlord's responsibility if a tenant buys a used sofa and brings bedbugs into the property?" That depends on whether you want to use your opinion or the prevailing law. I think there is few places a tenant would ever be held legally responsible for bed bugs. How do you prove they weren't already existing in the unit? And in any kind of multifamily, they spread. Who will the LL try to hold responsible?

Re: Termites by Nicole (PA) on May 22, 2012 @11:15	[ Reply ]

I don't believe PA has any "prevailing law". Tenants are responsible for themselves. If they move into a bug free unit, it's their problem if bugs end up in there. I don't understand why some other states can hold the landlord responsible for something that isn't of their own doing. Example: if I live in a row house (which I don't) and my next door neighbors end up with bugs (roaches or bed bugs) that don't realize they shouldn't come on my side of the wall, there is basically nothing I can do other than rid my own house of the bugs. Again, same thing in a rental - just because I own the building doesn't mean I am going to make things my problem when personal responsibility from adults should prevail. Bed bugs apparently are a part of life in today's world - that doesn't make them a property owner's problem - they are a personal issue. I believe a few years ago some legislator from Philadelphia tried to get a state wide law passed making it a landlord's responsibility but the rest of the state shut him down quickly - Philadelphia slum problems shouldn't affect the rest of the state and thankfully the rest of the legislators agreed. by the way, I know my places are bug free when rented because we have a lady with a bed bug sniffing dog in my area and I have her come out and "sniff around" in between tenants. She's been doing this for several years - dogs are certified through some organization.

Re: Termites

Re: Termites by jan (fl.) on July 7, 2013 @08:34	[ Reply ]

How in the world can a tenant bring in termites? I can understand roaches etc.I'm sure glad you don't live in Fl.too.We have enough slumlords here who do not care about their properties.

Re: Termites by Anonymous on May 5, 2015 @18:29	[ Reply ]

pittsburgh pa is full of slumlords its so very sad they think if there is walls and a roof you should kiss their feet cant wait till i can move my family out of here!!!

Re: Termites