The landlord is almost always responsible for general pest control on a property. Whether that means ensuring that the property is protected from common local pests or that the property is regularly treated against pests, these things fall within the scope of the owner's responsibilities. No, unless your rental agreement stipulates that the landlord will provide pest control services. The lease agreement should be read to see if pest control is specified as the landlord's responsibility.
If it's not in the lease agreement, the landlord may not need to control pests unless required by local housing or health codes. If the pest problem in the apartment is severe, the landlord may be asked to address the problem because the condition of the property violates local health and safety regulations. Usually, homeowners are concerned with seasonal pest control and preventive maintenance. Tenants are responsible if they cause the infestation.
The lease must require tenants to maintain their unit to avoid infestation. For example, the lease must require the tenant to keep their unit clean and prevent pets from causing a flea infestation. Landlords are responsible for pest control and for keeping infestations away, but there are situations where a tenant may have living behaviors that lead to an infestation and, in those cases, the tenant may be responsible for controlling pests. Pest control isn't cheap, so the question of who is financially responsible can cause some tension on both sides.
Regular pest control inspections should be scheduled in Orlando and it is definitely recommended that you review the property between tenants, but it is possible to include a clause in the rental agreement that says that, after performing the initial pest control check, the tenant is responsible for the following problems. The lease agreement must state that the landlord delivers the unit in good condition and is responsible for pest control. Even if you later discover that the tenant is responsible for the pest problem, your immediate responsibility is to get the pests out of the property as soon as possible. Many landlords address pest control in the lease, especially when there are no state or municipal laws on the subject.
As a homeowner, you must do your part to prevent both your buildings and single-family properties from having pests. If you don't report a significant problem to your landlord and the exterminator determines that it was the cause of the pest infestation, then you could be considered trustworthy for pest control services. A foolproof way to avoid having to worry about who is responsible for pest control in a rental is to prevent them in the first place. On a positive note, so far it seems that the owner has recognized the problem and has not tried to attribute responsibility for pest control to him.
Both parties are responsible for treating pest infestations or for pest control depending on what happened in the home. The quick answer is that yes, they would be violating their lease if they are responsible for pest control. Florida's law on pest control liability says that there is a clear law on pest control liability. When it comes to who is responsible for pest control in a rental, the answer depends on the situation and several factors.
Make sure that you, as a tenant, are aware of your rental responsibilities with respect to pest control, as well as any liability in the event of a pest infestation.
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