[starboard]

We moved into our rental property two weeks ago.
Within the first few days, we realised we had an ant and cockroach infestation. We informed the real estate in writing and verbally immediately.

They got back to us today and informed us that we can go ahead and get pest control in but at our cost.
As the critters were already here, isn't it up to the landlord to pay for it? They said the previous tenants should have fumigated the place on vacation and its the of the year for bugs anyway. Not very helpful.

A colleague of mine says her landlord paid for pest control when she moved into her current place as it was crawling with those German cockroaches. Apparently a tenant has a certain time frame in which to report an infestation and the landlord covers the costs. Anytime after, then the tenant pays.

I've had a search on Google for some info but can't find what I need.

Anybody know anything about this?

TIA

ETA- we are in NSW.

This post has been edited by starboard: 19/12/2012, 02:18 PM

[Ehill]

No idea what your rights are legally but I would dig your heels in. Refuse to pay and keep complaining. Over and over and over. Not good enough IMO.

[I*Love*Christmas]

We were in a similar situation but with mice at our previous rental. We fought tooth and nail but it ended up being us that had to pay. Unfortunately when it went higher up in the RTA (qld rental board) they said that if there was nothing about pest control in our lease agreement we had to pay.

[InsertAwesomeHer...]

http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/sessiona...act/2010-42.pdf

Page 26:

A landlord must provide the residential premises in a reasonable state of
cleanliness and fit for habitation by the tenant.

If it was like this when you moved in and they were notified it is up to them, if they won't get the place sprayed you could probably go to the tribunal but for the cost of a pest spray if you intend to stay there long term is it really worth it?

We buy the $30 mortein professional stuff and spray ourselves. The last place rented was sprayed before we moved in.

[It'sallgood]

As a landlord. I am VERY sure, that we have to make sure the place is as pest controlled as possible for new tenants.

do you rent through an agency? Did you fill in an inspection report when you took over the property? IN the fine print, I am quite sure you will find something to the effect of how long you have (and I'm sure 2 weeks would come within that time frame) to report things like this and have them rectified BY the landlord.

Do bear in mind though, that sometimes, if a place hasn't been sprayed in a long time (depending on how long the previous tenents wer there, they may not have sprayed in many years and might have lived like ferals and the place was infested +++ by the time they left!) that what sometimes happen, is after a good spray, the bugs come out and go nuts for a few weeks. BUT - you can usually tell if this is the case because they are dying all over the place NOT healthy and alive

Probably, the previous tenants didn't get it sprayed at all and this wasn't checked

Anyway, If your landlords or agency refuse to do something asap, then I think you should ring your Rental Tenancies Authority in your state.

That's just not acceptable. I would never expect my tenants to have to put up with that.

Good luck,
Tamm

[Jane Jetson]

This happened to us. We got the place professionally treated, and no more problem. Basically if the place is like that when you move in it's the landlord's responsibility; later, it's yours - at least in the states I've lived in.

Maybe ring your state Tenants' Union or advisory line and check?