How Pest Control Is a Top Priority for Property Management Services

Posted by Anna Johnson on April 1st, 2023

Property management companies are often responsible for pest control concerns in their property portfolio. That means, from a business perspective, it makes sense to create strong ties with reliable companies to create a consistent solution-focused service in core property areas. Pest control goes beyond simply removing pests, after all, so a clear strategy in this area is highly recommended for all professional property services. The guide below explores why pest control should really be one of the big priorities for these companies and how the relationship can support and boost professional reputation too.

What is the Purpose of Pest Control Services?

Pest control services exist to manage, eradicate and prevent pest problems in domestic and commercial properties across the country. They are a highly sought after service, as pests can appear and infest anywhere at any time. Typical pest control services focus on rats, mice, bed bugs, and sometimes insects or birds, though these are less common.

What do Property Management Companies Do?

Companies like Henri-Taylor properties have a clear focus on the administration, maintenance, and tenant management side of landlord responsibilities. They exist to enable landlords in maximising the efficiency, reliability, and value of their property and to provide support and reassurance on both sides of the tenancy agreement. They can be used for short-term lets, long-term lets, and everything in between. They are responsible for things such as pest control within their properties whether that is commercial or domestic. Other typical duties could be creating tenancy agreements, finding tenants, providing rental guarantees, and managing diaries.

Property Management and Pest Control: Where the Responsibility Lies

This is often up for debate. However, generally speaking, if a property management company has authority over a property and is responsible for maintenance, upkeep, and security then they have some role to play in pest removal and prevention. Certain factors can dictate the level of input including:

• Whether or not the infestation pre-dates the current tenancy.
• Why the pests are there in the first place (e.g., is it the fault of the current tenants)?
• Whether the landlord can be considered at fault.
• If the problem is addressed within the tenancy agreement.

Pests of any variety are considered to be a health and safety concern for tenants. Therefore, property services are responsible in this sense. If the problem is left to fester, it can quickly get out of hand and even become a public health concern.

Top Reasons Why Management Companies Should Care About Pest Control

So, there is some responsibility on both sides, and a proactive management company should always take a proactive approach. Collaboration with tenants is essential, but not always possible. However, these are the main reasons why these services should promote pest control as a priority regardless of their interaction with tenants.

Health and Safety

As a management company, ensuring that your buildings are safe, kept in line with building regulations, and habitable for the occupants are all essential factors. Even if a property lies dormant, ensuring maintenance will be beneficial for marketing, viewings, and general condition upkeep. Keeping the property safe will prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries, which could be costly for both financial prospects and reputational considerations of the company if a pest problem were to see serious consequences.

Reputation

Property management services need to care about their reputation in order to stay viable. Any business has this concern, but this is one of the most competitive businesses around the world, and therefore the representation has to be fiercely professional across the board. Handling things like pest control in a multi-faceted approach will show expertise and reliability which will enhance the reputation and lead to more natural leads for the company.

Preventing Damage: Protecting Assets

While a management company may not have a stake in the actual ownership, they do have a financial interest in the property itself. Preventing damage from simple factors such as pests is just a smart move in this context. Not only are you proving that you are willing to protect the landlord’s asset (and therefore boosting that relationship), but you are also protecting your own investment and revenue too.

What Can Companies Do to Prevent and Control Pest Problems?

Pest problems need addressing quickly. The longer the problem is left untouched, the bigger it becomes and the harder, therefore, to solve. There are prevention strategies to act as a barrier to pests settling into a property, and these should all be explored by property management companies to retain the value and safety of their building.

Stay On Top of External Maintenance

This point is as important for vacant properties as it is for occupied ones. Where there are tenants, there is a higher risk of rodents because rodents will go where there is food. Where there are no tenants, other pests are more likely to settle in like wasps' nests and so on. However, either circumstance is less than ideal. There must be regular checks of the property’s exterior including all the hot spot areas where pests could become a concern. Drains, for instance, should be kept clean and functional.

Make Sure Tenants Understand Waste Disposal

By providing tenants with up-to-date information about correct waste disposal, you are enabling them to handle things better at their end of the agreement. Pests are attracted to areas of mess, dirt, and high volumes of waste so it is in your best interest to address this problem head-on.

Be Present

Aside from these factors, property management companies just have to be present at their properties in a non-invasive way. This includes being upfront about maintenance requests and ensuring that when properties are inspected, pests are a number one priority within that checklist.

Incorporate It into Tenancy Agreements

There is the additional, protective option of incorporating awareness into the tenancy agreement. A clause about tenants’ responsibilities in this area would be beneficial and help you maintain the problem. It is not uncommon for management companies to ask their tenants to report pest problems as soon as they are noticed and to keep an eye out just in case.

Pest control is important for property management companies. The two can work together to create a reliable contract that is mutually beneficial.