UK Landlord Forum / Life

After 1.5 months my tenant (who has a pet) reported to me that they had pest control done as the pet had fleas and mites. My previous tenant (who moved out 3 months before the new tenant came) had no pets in the apartment, and the check-in report didn't state any signs of infestation. The tenancy agreement states that the tenant is responsible for pest control "unless such infestation occurs as a failure of the landlord to fulfil the landlord's repairing obligations".

As a landlord, I believe that I'm not responsible for this as the only vermin that can be found in the house are dust mites but they come from dust, meaning that the tenant is not cleaning the apartment well enough. Fleas and other mites can only be brought into the apartment from outside, and they live on pets.

Has anyone faced this problem before or knows who's responsible in this situation?

Thanks!

All dogs.cats,rabbits etc.can and do get fleas.That is why flea treatment is usually advised a couple of times a year.This is done with drops on the back of the neck,or special shampoos.If the animal is getting repeated infestations there are sprays that vets and pet shops sell that can be used on carpets and bedding.I have not heard of anyone having to call in professional pest control except in rare cases of a filthy house  with several  neglected animals.
If the place was empty for 3 months,any pet fleas would usually have died,having no host to feed off.This is the responsibility of the tenant,and I would advise you to inspect the state of your house! 

Quote from: heavykarma on November 22, 2020, 04:57:47 PM
All dogs.cats,rabbits etc.can and do get fleas.That is why flea treatment is usually advised a couple of times a year.This is done with drops on the back of the neck,or special shampoos.If the animal is getting repeated infestations there are sprays that vets and pet shops sell that can be used on carpets and bedding.I have not heard of anyone having to call in professional pest control except in rare cases of a filthy house  with several  neglected animals.
If the place was empty for 3 months,any pet fleas would usually have died,having no host to feed off.This is the responsibility of the tenant,and I would advise you to inspect the state of your house!

Thanks for your reply! Yes, pets should be treated for fleas a couple of times a year. The apartment was very clean before the tenant moved in, and as mentioned before, the check-in report by the clerks mentioned no signs of dirt, let alone infestations. Therefore, I don't see how I am responsible for this in any way.

Tenant liability in my view.

I used to manage properties in a building that had an issue with bed bugs. It was in the tenancy agreements that this was a tenant responsibility to resolve.