Ifmy tenant brought roaches to a single family home I rent to her, is she responsible for the costs of extermination?
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Ifmy tenant brought roaches to a single family home I rent to her, is she responsible for the costs of extermination?
I have owned and rented a single family home for 7 years. Tenant who moved in last year brought roaches. We have never had a problem with roaches or mice. The house is filthy. I want to get the home professionally exterminated to avoid any further infestation. Can the tenant be held responsible for the extermination costs?
Asked on August 3, 2011 Illinois
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If the tenant you recently rented a single family home to brought cockroaches to it where the unit did not have such infestation before, the tenant would seem to be responsible for the costs of their elimination. The problem that you may have is proving that the tenant was the one responsible for bringing this vermin to your rental.
Read your written lease (assuming you have one) carefully between you and your tenant for a provision within it about the tenant's obligation to keep the rental clean and habitable. If there is a provision requiring a clean and habitable unit by your tenant, advise the tenant that it appears that he or she is not living up to the lease's terms on the issue, and for safety purposes, the home will need to be professionally exterminated at the tenant's costs.
In any event, many states have laws requiring clean and habitable conditions for tenants. Your actions wanting a clean and habitable rental are warranted.
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