Pest control responsibilities

Our Experts Answer:

The responsibility for pest control is very much dependent upon the circumstances. On the one hand, under the Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord is required to “provide the premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness”. On the other hand, a tenant is required to “keep the premises reasonably clean and reasonably tidy”. In other words, the landlord has to present the premises in a clean and tidy condition, and a tenant is required to keep it that way during the tenancy.

This means timing is a big question when deciding responsibility. It would be unlikely that the mice had decided to take up residence after the start of your tenancy five days ago. The stench and the proliferation of droppings suggests they have been in the hot water cupboard for longer. In these circumstances, you can safely conclude that the landlord should have provided you with a clean, mouse-free hot water cupboard. If, however, mice started visiting later in your tenancy because you left food uncovered and available for them, a level of responsibility would fall to you.

Similarly, the fleas were most likely to have been in residence prior to the start of your tenancy, and you can reasonably expect a landlord to be responsible for eradicating them in preparation for your tenancy. (Sometimes fleas lie dormant in carpet pile and are released by a carpet cleaning process.)

It is worth noting that ants and cockroaches are also a common problem. They can appear suddenly, even in a clean house. This can occur as a result of nearby construction or earthworks or a neighbour getting pest control treatment which sets them on the move. And it can be an environmental issue.

Small infestations that can be eradicated with a can of supermarket insecticide should be well within the capabilities of a tenant. However, if that treatment fails and a larger problem exists (such as a nest of ants or cockroaches) it may well require professional pest control. Problems of that nature are generally the responsibility of the landlord under the section 45 (1) (a) requirement to provide the premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness.