Re: Termites - Landlord Forum thread 255801

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

...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.

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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 by OK-LL on May 22, 2012 @13:57	[ Reply ]

I think the legal justification for the law that LL is responsible for pest control in MF is because the tenant cannot control what comes under the wall from the neighbors. The LL bears more responsibility because he controls who the neighbors are by his selection of tenants, and because he has more skin in the game when it comes to being pest-free -- tenants are transitory, LLs are forever (at least until they sell!).

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 by Anonymous on May 5, 2015 @18:36	[ Reply ]

even while the termites are eating the walls away... we were told there was a guy coming just to check everything then after we pay we are told that the ppl before us had roaches and that it termites were bad but have been being treated and everything is gone two weeks later new guy comes and we find out the original guy did nothing that they are still there eating the basement away its gross plus we are now seeing what my little girl calls ants with wings (termites) in our part of the house now the basement steps look like they are going to fall so we use the outside ones now but they are just as bad owners NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SLUM THEY LET THEIR TENANTS LIVE IN!