Landlords naturally want to ensure that tenants are taking good care of their property. While inspections are a common term of renting, these normally consist of a quick check to ensure everything is in good working order.

Do you or your property management company ever check for the signs of a pest infestation however? This is something that doesn’t often cross people’s mind until the infestation has spiralled out of control and significant damage has occurred.

Rather than waiting for an infestation to happen, it’s a good idea for landlords to include pest prevention as part of their regular checks. There are a number of benefits of doing this including:

• It saves money in the long run. If someone is renting a property, they’re more likely to ignore problems for longer than they would if it was their own home. If pest are left to their own devices for too long, they can cause significant structural damage which will be costly to repair
• It establishes a good relationship with tenants. Pests may become a problem if tenants aren’t practicing good prevention techniques but they can also find their way inside despite everyone’s best efforts. By having a prevention plan in place, tenants can be reassured that you’re doing everything you can to keep them safe and that you know how to act swiftly in the event of an infestation
• It ensures tenants are being responsible. Pests have all sorts of clever ways to sneak inside but there’s a lot we can do to make it as difficult as possible for them. By educating tenants about these techniques, you know that they’re doing everything they can to keep your property safe
• It protects your reputation. If your property becomes known for pest infestations, you’re going to struggle to find and keep tenants. This is especially important because rodents, cockroaches, fleas and bed bugs can be a health risk. Infestations can spread diseases and aggravate certain conditions such as asthma, eczema and allergies

How can I protect my rental property?

There are a number of ways landlords and agents can protect the properties they’re letting out.

• Ask tenants to clear up food spillages immediately and store food in tightly sealed containers
• Fill any potential entry points around the property. Don’t forget the roof because many pests climb up trees and gain access via the top of the house
• Clear drainpipes of leaves
• Ensure any outside space is kept clean and free of clutter
• Encourage tenants to keep the property clean
• Educate tenants about the signs of an infestation so they know to call you as soon as they suspect there may be a problem
• Ask tenants to report any leaks as soon as they notice them. Pests are drawn to water and can often be found lurking near pipes, especially if they’re dripping

Another great tip is to enlist the help of a local pest control company. Having someone on hand you know you can trust means that you will be able to deal with an infestation quickly and effectively.

Crucially, they will also be able to share prevention techniques which can be tailored to your property after conducting a full survey.

For further information about pest control for landlords or to book in for your free, no obligation audit, please get in touch with Prokill.