Flea infestation after someone leaves their unit: we keep running into this problem.

Flea infestation after someone leaves their unit: we keep running into this problem. My maintenance guy fogs the apartment and our exterminator sprays, but it takes a few rounds of this to get rid of them. Can I write something in our Turnover Costs addendum to charge them an extra fee for this?

It is in our pet agreement that the apartment must be treated for fleas or they will be charged.

Teresa what if they have a service/ESA animal? Can we have them sign a Pet Agreement even if they’re not considered a “pet”?

We do because there are still rules to follow even if it is a service-esa animal.

Tony Leon we use an animal addendum that was pets, service, and support animals are all covered.

Payne where can I find this addendum? Would you be able to send it to me, maybe?

Tony Leon we just use the standard TAA addendum that is provided by our state association. I’m not in the office right now to send it but I can scan one over to you when I get back in the office.

It is best to have your lawyer or corporate counsel draft an addendum or at least add the needed legal jargon to make your addendum hold up court.

We have a service animal agreement that is exactly like our pet policy except for the deposit and we changed the word pet to service animal

Shere'e Robinson yes.. that is what we have - it is the same minus the deposit information

Dont fog... it never works and just pushes them farther into the carpet. Have pest control spray asap and then maintenance will.need to vacuum daily the next few days to agitate/kill the rest.

Wallace Scott Ashby II put a cheap flea collar inside the vacuum bag or canister so as to prevent “relocating fleas” to other units.

carpet and pad need to be replaced

One can of Novacide lasts us about 3 units. Next few days keep vacuuming and mopping never had to repeat - been using it for over 12 years! I refuse to pay $43 for pest control to do it for one treatment when I can pay $22 for 3 treatments. We use it for severe roach infestations along with a few other tricks. My husband is a pest control tech so I pretty much forced him to teach me what to do then taught my guys

Of course you can! The fleas were not there when they moved in, so it’s damage caused by the resident.

Service animals and ESAs are required to follow the same rules as pets and medical devices. If your oxygen tank blew up and damaged your apartment, it's going to fall on you, your renter's insurance company, medical insurance company or warranty to pay for the repair as it does not fall on the landlord.

I would think so. It takes more than one treatment because of hatching ones is my guess.

Just ran into this exact scenario... I've been told by two different pest control people that it can take up to 21 days to eradicate. Both said you need to vacuum daily for 7-10 days following treatment using the beater bar. Apparently you can't kill the larvae, and the vibration from the vacuum encourages them to hatch ????????‍♀️. Sweep and empty the canister.

Institute a pest control addendum! You can charge for lost rent due to pest treatments as well as the treatments themselves.

Table salt spread out on the floors. Leave for 24 hours. Then vacuum. Change the bag in the vacuum. Vacuum again in 24 hours and change bag again. Fleas will be gone. I have been in busy for 40 years and used this method many many times. It worked every time.

If your community is partnered with ePremium you can place a claim against their renter's insurance policy under pet damage to help recoup the cost.

Have you considered adding a dog wash to the building with flea shampoo. That way you can proactively deal with the situation.

Absolutely you can. And yes, even if the animal is a service dog or “irrational support animal”. The lease states that the apartment is to be returned in the conditioned it was received with exceptions for minor wear and tear. If they push the issue, the judge will ask you if “flea extermination” is part of your regular make ready expenses and as long as it is not a regular expense - the resident is liable....