When vacating a rental property, all tenants must perform end-of-lease pest control. This is required for a bond held on the property to be fully refunded. This will be at the tenant’s expense and included in the contract signed when the tenant first takes over the property.
Cockroaches and fleas are the most common pests that require spraying for an end-of-lease pest control treatment. In some cases, a property manager may request that other pests, such as spiders, silverfish, and possibly rats or mice, be treated simultaneously.
If a tenant has had animals at the property, such as cats and dogs, they will undoubtedly be required to have the interior and exterior of the property sprayed for fleas. This will require treating all carpeted areas, as this is where fleas are most likely to harbor and breed.
When vacating a rental property, a tenant who keeps birds of any kind must have their home sprayed for lice and mites. This treatment is similar to flea treatment in that it requires a blanket spray of all carpets and floors and treatment of the roof void, as this is an area where bird lice and mites will harbor.
When Should You Get The Treatment:
When vacating a rental property, the best time to have an end-of-lease pest control spraying done for your real estate agent is at the very end. So many tenants get this wrong when all of their belongings are removed from the property.
The following steps should be taken to vacate a property:
Take everything off the property.
Inside and out, clean the house.
Make plans to finish the gardens.
Make arrangements for carpet cleaning.
Arrange for pest control to be performed.
Return your keys to the agent.
If you are moving out of a property, the above list should be followed, and there should be no overlap of trades getting in each other’s way. All of the above processes can be done by the tenant or by employing the services of trade contractors. The only two things that the tenant cannot do are carpet cleaning and pest control. These two items will require a receipt from the company doing the service to get your bond back successfully.
The Pest Treatment:
Treating a house for pests for a tenant who is ending a lease and moving is similar to any other general pest control treatment; if anything, the actual process is a little faster because the house or unit will be empty.
An internal and external spray will be applied to all surfaces in most cases. Because all cupboards will be empty at the time of treatment, most pest controllers will also spray inside the cupboards, providing a perfect long-lasting pest treatment for all manner of pests such as cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, ants, and other general pests found in and around the home.
Once the treatment is completed, the technician will provide the tenant with a full receipt that details the type of pests treated and the products used during the service.
Warranties for Pest Control:
A warranty is an essential part of the entire process; the agent will require the pest control company performing the service to provide some warranty for the pests that have been treated and listed on the receipt.
A free service warranty period for tenants vacating a home is typically between 1-3 or 12 months, depending on the type of treated pests. When your pest technician completes the service, they will explain everything when issuing the receipt. There must be some warranty, or your property manager may request that the service be performed again with a warranty.
Any relocating tenant must ensure that their end-of-lease pest control service includes a full guarantee. This is critical because they may lose their bond.
Important Information for New Tenants:
When a tenant takes on a rental property, they will usually walk through the agent before signing the Lease. This is done to point out any defects in the property and ensure that the new tenant is not held responsible for them.
All defects will be noted on the lease agreement. The copy that the tenant receives must be kept safe, as this is the only thing that will prevent a tenant from being saddled with the costs of costly repairs that they did not perform when vacating the property later on.
I’ve been dealing with real estate agents for over twenty years and have seen severe problems arise between them and tenants. The best advice for a tenant taking on a rental would be to do a comprehensive inspection of the property before signing, take lots of photos, and store them on your computer for later if needed because you never know, and photos don’t lie.
