I own a bungalow that I rent to two different tenants. The one who rents the basement complain about having fleas in his apartment. The tenant who lives upstairs has two cats and he's the one to blame for this problem. As a landlord, should I be the one taking responsibility for this issue or is the tenant who has the cats the one who should cover the costs of getting rid off the fleas? Thanks.
By MG
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Do you have a NO PET policy?
How much would it cost you (the landlord) to buy a flea bomb to kill the fleas in the apartment?
After the problem is taken care of in the basement apartment, and if the problem persists in the future you as the landlord have the right to tell the tenant to get rid of the cats or to find another place to live!
Fleas do not only come from cats or any other animal for that matter. Humans bring in fleas more often than indoor pets. It is even possible fleas already lived in the bungalow basement carpet, baseboards, etc.
Landlords that do not allow pets are the reason so many end up in shelters waiting to be put to sleep. That is not the answer and I have never rented from someone like that because I disagree. Tell the tenant to go to the store. Bombs are cheap. A little annoying but ok to do and then you do not have to look mean telling someone to get rid of their pets.
Different states have different tenant laws. I would suggest you ask your tenant for a pets clean bill of health signed by the vet. If the cats have fleas the vet cannot sign it, The tenant should show that the cats have been treated with Advantage or Frontline.
I moved into a rental apt with my cat, within a week ,there was evidence of fleas on her, and in unit,apparently former tenant had four animals.
1. Read the rules of the Landlord/Tenant Act for your state.
2. Check the instructions for the use of Fog Bombs to see if they are pet safe, if the animals arr out of the unit on the day you bomb. If not, locate other cat safe solution.
3. If so, schedule Bomb day, have both tenants prepare units, remove cats, and then you and the pets' owner apply Bombs to both units, following all directions,carefully.
4. Charge pet owner a fee of $50, or more, for your time and energy, plus the cost of both Bombs.
5. Inform pet owner tenant that she or he is required to maintain the whole house flee-free or will have to vacate under the three day notice next time it happens.
Looks like the one with the cats should stay on the bottom and also should pay the cost for his pet's problem. Or no pets....
Wow - there's no easy answer to this question. What are your state laws? What is written in your rental contract? Did you allow the tenant to have pets? Did you specify in the contract who is responsible for situations like these? I hate to say this, but where I live, fleas are a problem - even for those who do not have pets. They can be bad in some areas and not in others, of the same part of town. A person can pick them up just walking to one's car or walking through a market parking lot.
Do you have any proof or are you assuming that the cats are responsible? Even if they are, if you allowed the renter to have them and have nothing in the contract, you may be legally responsible - that's why renters pay deposits.
I haven't answered any question simple logic if I dont own a pet and I rent to a person that does an all of a sudden my property has fleas the tenate should get rid of the fleas or vacant an take the cat an the fleas with them
There is no proof the cats brought the fleas. We have indoor only cats who never had fleas until a dog moved in next door and fleas "rode" in on our clothes. Fleas can infest your yard and be tracked in.
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