Are you renting an apartment or house from a landlord and you’re experiencing a cockroach infestation? You might be wondering who is responsible for eliminating the infestation, is it the landlord or the tenant, as well as how long do they have to eliminate this roach infestation. Thankfully below we’re going to dive into how long does a landlord have to get rid of roaches from a rental property, as well as tlak about the law regarding roaches in an apartment or rental home.
Who Is Responsible For Getting Rid of Cockroaches In A Rental Property?
The responsibility of getting rid of roaches in a rental property, is determined by the cause of the cockroaches.
If the cockroach infestation is caused by the tenants actions or living behaviors such as an unclean home with overflowing garbage bins, then the tenant is responsible for eliminating the cockroach infestation.
On the other hand, if there is a cockroach infestation that isn’t directly caused by the tenant, then the landlord is responsible for eliminating the cockroach infestation. The landlord is responsible for maintaining a inhabitable property for their tenants, and a home with a roach infestation is considered unacceptable living conditions for the tenant. If the tenant isn’t directly causing the infestation, then the landlord will have to rectify the situation by hiring a professional exterminator or getting rid of the cockroaches themselves.
It generally is up to the landlord to prove that the tenant is the cause of the cockroach infestation if they are looking to pass the responsibility to the tenant.
How Long Does A Landlord Have To Get Rid of Roaches?
If the landlord is found responsibly for rectifying the cockroach infestation, they need to ensure that their property is considered acceptable living conditions, but there isn’t a hard and fast rule that dictates how much time they have to rectify the roach infestation. These guidelines vary state by state, so you should take a look at your states Tenant Laws to see what your rights are as a renter, as well as if it dictates how long the landlord has to rectify a situation such as a roach infestation.
These tenant laws can also apply to cockroaches in hotels, so keep an eye on that as well.
What Should You Do As A Tenant With A Cockroach Infestation
If you are renting a home or apartment and you’re experiencing a cockroach infestation, there are a few things you need to do to ensure that you aren’t responsible for the infestation, and to ensure that your landlord actually follows through with eliminating the cockroaches.
- Ensure that you are dealing with cockroaches. There are other bugs that look like roaches, but you need to be sure you’re dealing with cockroaches.
- Document any and all correspondence with your landlord related to the cockroach infestation. Try to have all communication documented via email rather than verbal conversations.
- Ensure that your home is clean and tidy and that your living behaviors aren’t responsible for the cockroach infestation.
- Take photos of your tidy living space as well as any cockroach activity to have as documentation.
- Know your rights as a tenant, research tenant law in your state or area to understand exactly what your rights are as a tenant and who is responsible as well as if you need to pay rent while living in unacceptable living conditions.
Because tenant law can vary depending on your state it’s always recommended to do your own research or consult a professional that has experience in these matters in your state. It could be possible that you don’t have to pay rent for the period that you lived with an infestation, but it really depends on your specific location.
If you are looking to treat the issue yourself, then check out our guide on the best roach spray for apartments!
Final Thoughts On Landlords and Cockroach Infestations
Renting a home and dealing with cockroach infestations can be difficult because it isn’t always cut and dry on who is responsible for getting rid of the infestation. That being said, if you are a responsible tenant, generally it will be on the landlord to rectify the situation, but it can vary depending on your state.
We always recommend reviewing your tenant laws in your specific state to understand your rights as a tenant in situations like this.
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