Replies

1. 
   PedroTheMule | Jul 08, 2009 04:32am | #1

   Hi bc,

   Never had roach problem on a property. Tenant has a dog. Leaves dogfood in kitchen. Now complains about roaches and flees. Dogs just damaged air conditioner. Tenant doesnt want to pay... tells me im at fault for the roach problem... thoughts?

   Feed the roaches fertilizer and have 'em eat the dog and tenant.

   Actually, do you allow dogs in your lease? If so, exterminate the roaches and let your tenant know in certified writing that you will only treat once a year. Any more frequent and it's up to him as you've never had a problem before.

   If you don't allow dogs, then get rid of the tenant and then treat for roaches before the next tenant comes in.

   Pedro the Mule - It's your house and the tenant should treat it that way or buy his own

1. 
   brownbagg | Jul 08, 2009 04:45am | #2

   "i'm sorry you are unhappy here, here your deposit minus damages and extermination- GIT OUT"

2. 
   renosteinke | Jul 08, 2009 04:54am | #3

   Before you act rashly ....

   Roaches, once established, can be a real PITA. Key to eliminating them is to realize that they need a safe refuge.

   For example, one place I stayed, all the units had roach problems. You would treat your place, only to have them return in a few days. Then a 'quiet type' tenant died.

   His place was piled with papers ... newspapers, junk mail, food wrappers. We filled a 40yd dumpster from his place, easily. His place proved to be 'ground zero' for the problem; nuke his place, and the problem was quickly brought under control.

   Another place had central hot water heat. There, the roach problem went away the day a main pipe blew. It had been leaking for years, in a masonry chase ... creating a perfect roach haven, with ready access to all the units. Replace the pipe, dry the chase out, and again the problem was quickly solved.

   So, I'd look a bit deeper; your complainer may not be the cause of the trouble.

3. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Jul 08, 2009 07:12am | #4

   i don't think the food in the kitchen is  a big deal,lot of people do that,but that don'tmean the guy isn't to blame.

   if you don't spray they will get worse,so might as well hit it and decide what to do from there.he stays or goes.you can try and bomb it, but my guy uses a syringe type thing and puts it in all the cracks,it kicks but. you can get them at lowes etc.

   the air is a whole nuther deal,if the dog done it,he needs to pay. i had a dog chew thru the thermastat line on condensor unit,which in turn shorted out the 24v system in the furnace. about 250 to fix,i it ate because they were good renters,but told em next time would be theres.

   the older i get ,

   the more people tick me off

1. 
   brownbagg | Jul 08, 2009 07:36pm | #7

   the older i get ,the more people tick me offi call it the grumpy old man simplex: serioustwo thing you always heard: wise old man, respect your elders, and grump old man.when you young, you lack experience and knowledge so nothing bothers you, no fear homer Simpson.as you get older you get smarter see more experience but you don't realize you are smarter you still think you dumb, that where the wise old man comes in.then you see the young doing stupid stuff and you get upset and start hating people because they don't pay attention to you, the wise old man. that where the grumpy old man comes from.so moral of story: whiffle bat

1. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Jul 08, 2009 09:00pm | #8

   my wife calls me crotchty [?]. it just seems that people have no regard for oher people around them, it's their world and they are going to do what ever. yeah i am crotchty now that you mention it.the older i get ,

   the more people tick me off

4. 
   kurt99 | Jul 08, 2009 06:39pm | #5

   It sounds like you are talking about a single family house. If so, does your lease address this subject. If not, think about adding it to your next lease. It is reasonable to have a tenant of a single family house responsible for pest control the same way they likely are responsible for lawn care unless your state law says otherwise. If it is multi-family, there would be no question in my mind, I would take care of it as one unit's problem will soon be everyone's problem.

   If it is not addressed in your lease, just take care of the roaches at least. They can be conquered with persistence and either Combat or MaxForce gel. These are bait/poisons that they take back to the nest and kill the whole family. You squeeze out small strips of gel where the roaches frequent. Do not use sprays or bombs with the gel as it will chase the roaches around and away from the gel. Cleaning a bunch of roach poop from all the corners and crevices will not be fun when they move in a few months after the roaches take over even if you goal is to get them to move.

   Since they have a dog, if would consider the fleas to be their problem.

5. 
   woodway | Jul 08, 2009 06:48pm | #6

   Toss him/her out in 30 days, no dogs allowed in rental units!

6. 
   glatt | Jul 08, 2009 09:19pm | #9

   roaches don't go after pet food so much or even human food. They like paper and the glue that is in cardboard. So they should eliminate any boxes or stacks of paper they are storing.

   And what roaches really need is a source of water. Without water, they will die off. There might be a drip somewhere, or maybe they are getting into the pan under the refrigerator. Not sure if they can get into the dog's water bowl for water. But they are getting water from somewhere.

   Eliminate the paper and cardboard around the place, and get rid of any tiny little leaks or drips that might be coming from a toilet shut off valve or whatever, and put some bait stations around.

   We had a roach problem in my clean house until I fixed a basement utility sink that was dripping on the concrete floor just a little.

7. 
   aimless | Jul 09, 2009 02:21am | #10

   Two separate issues. The roach problem is yours unless you don't allow dogs. The A/C repair comes out of their damage deposit if you can document that the dog damaged it.

    

   Not a lawyer or a landlord, just somebody who rented for a long time, and really hates roaches.

1. 
   bc | Jul 09, 2009 03:55am | #11

   Contaced our attorneys and they said well if the place is filthy then we are not being professionally negligent. the propery has been on a quarterly treatment for over 10 years. the tenants threatened to sue me if i dont take care of the problem. their dog damaged the ac... deducted the amount from security deposit.

1. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Jul 09, 2009 05:39am | #12

   i don't know where you live or what the rules are,but any tenant that threatens to sue me,better know if they are on a month to month,they get their notice the first of next month.if it's alease they are gone the day it expires. just doing them a favor,if they hate living in my house that bad i'll move em so they can be happier.

    

   it's time to play hardball,he dont pay july,serve the notice,file in court and i don't care if he shows up with brand new 100. bills i'm not accepting,i'm evicting.the older i get ,

   the more people tick me off