Property Pests – There is nothing worse than finding out that one of your properties has become subject to a pest infestation, especially as it means that not only will you have to organise removing them but potentially also move your tenants out of the property until the pests are gone. Often pests can be dealt with easily, but there are ways to prevent them in the first place. Here we look at what you need to know about pests in your properties:
Protect your Property
Knowing that none of you homes are being visited by unwelcomed visitors is obviously the ideal situation for all landlords, and whilst it is difficult to guarantee pests not getting into your properties there are ways you can prevent them. For example, mice and rats often get into houses through small cracks in the walls, such as those where the water pipe comes into your property from the outside. You can easily block these cracks yourself by just buying some insulating foam from your local hardware store. The foam will expand in the cracks and then go hard so that it will be almost impossible for pests to get in!
Talk to your Tenants
Pests such as mice and rats often only visit houses that they can get into easily and that have a food supply ready for them to steal. Naturally, your tenants will keep food in your property, however you should advise them to make sure that they store it properly and don’t leave it out on the side or unwrapped in cupboards. You should also make your tenants aware that dirty dishes and overflowing bins are often the main food sources for mice and rats, and if you find that a dirty house is the cause for an infestation then you will be charging them for damages and the cost to get rid of them.
Call the Experts
No matter how hard you try sometimes you just have to deal with the fact that pests are pesky, and so will get in to your properties one way or another! It’s not just rats and mice you will have to look out for, but also wasps and ants, especially in the summer. If you do find you have pests in your property you should call an expert immediately and not attempt to get rid of them yourself unless you know what you are doing. Poisons and rat traps can often be dangerous, so best to leave it to the professionals and claim the costs on your landlord insurance!
If you keep an eye on each of your properties and make sure they are clean and well-kept then the likelihood of you finding pests is very low. However, it’s always a good idea to know what to do just in case you ever get a frantic phone call from your tenants!