New to Orlando... Pest control? (Andover: apartment complex, lease, how much)

[NRoyal10]

Hello everyone! My husband and I just moved from Chicago to Orlando in the Andover Lakes area. We are renting a 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom house. It's lovely. My question is about pest control. The house is very clean and we don't seem to have any problems yet. The owner is putting up a fence soon. The property backs up into a natural area. Palms and other things have already been chopped down but all the dead debris is left back there. Seems like it would be an awesome home for all sorts of critters.
Anyway, do you do regular pest control or only when it's needed. What are some reputable companies and how much does it usually cost?
Thanks so much!

[Spring Hillian]

Massey Services. Have them treat now and let them figure best treatment plan in future. These guys take wall plates off switches and outlets to treat in the walls. Very through and professional.

[VTGal]

Maybe check with your neighbors to see what their experience is in your area.

[BrokerHarry]

As a home owner, I use Massey for monthly service on my principal residence, & I pay them 1 year at a time, in full, to get an extra 5% discount on their very thorough & competitive services. I like them.

But if you're a renter, Florida code says it's the obligation of the landlord to provide housing that is free of pests. That doesn't mean the landlord has to hire the service of your choice, but it does mean the landlord has an obligation to address any bug or insect infestation that might impact your living conditions. It's the landlord's obligation, not yours, the tenant.

If you feel your landlord is giving you a good deal, & you like your house & situation, & you want to be reasonable, you might consider requesting the landlord to cover the cost of some type of pest spray that you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot, & you could spray around the exterior of the house yourself, once a month or so.

No matter how clean you keep your house, you're going to need some type of pest control sooner than later, in our sub tropical climate.

[VTGal]

Originally Posted by BrokerHarry

But if you're a renter, Florida code says it's the obligation of the landlord to provide housing that is free of pests. That doesn't mean the landlord has to hire the service of your choice, but it does mean the landlord has an obligation to address any bug or insect infestation that might impact your living conditions. It's the landlord's obligation, not yours, the tenant.

hhhmmmmm the apartment complex I live in charges me for pest control, whether they spray my apartment or not. Pretty typical charge of any of the complexes I looked at. So is this FL code saying the landlord pays to deal with the bug issue?

[BrokerHarry]

Originally Posted by VTGal

hhhmmmmm the apartment complex I live in charges me for pest control, whether they spray my apartment or not. Pretty typical charge of any of the complexes I looked at. So is this FL code saying the landlord pays to deal with the bug issue?

(2)(a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, in addition to the requirements of subsection (1), the landlord of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex shall, at all times during the tenancy, make reasonable provisions for:
1. The extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

It depends on the exact wording that was inserted into the lease.

[VTGal]

Originally Posted by BrokerHarry

1. The extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs.
It depends on the exact wording that was inserted into the lease.

Thanks for the info.

I'm certainly not agreeable to paying a monthly fee especially since I never request for the exterminator to come but I'm stuck paying it if I want to live here, it's in the lease. The one good thing is there is nothing in the lease about charging the tenant extra beyond the monthly fee.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by NRoyal10

Hello everyone! My husband and I just moved from Chicago to Orlando in the Andover Lakes area. We are renting a 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom house. It's lovely. My question is about pest control. The house is very clean and we don't seem to have any problems yet. The owner is putting up a fence soon. The property backs up into a natural area. Palms and other things have already been chopped down but all the dead debris is left back there. Seems like it would be an awesome home for all sorts of critters.
Anyway, do you do regular pest control or only when it's needed. What are some reputable companies and how much does it usually cost?
Thanks so much!

It largely depends upon what is surrounding the house in my opinion. My house also backs up to a wetland/conservation area with all kinds of critters and having replaced the standard wood mulch with river rock in the planting beds surrounding my house has eliminated any roach/spider activity for the past couple of years. Keeping a clean house contributes greatly as well. Also not having overgrown shrubs or trees up against your house helps prevent too. I still maintain full hedges/plantings but they're kept trimmed a good two feet away from the house. I also have Terminix come out four times a year and spray the perimeter only for $75 a visit, which has probably helped contribute to zero bug sightings.

[clayton16]

I agree with VTGal, it is best to contact with your neighbours they best know about pest control services.