Pest Problems and Pitfalls in the Rental Sector
Some pests are a constant threat no matter what type of property you are dealing with. Rodents for example are great opportunists and will infest any property given the chance. High density housing can be especially challenging when trying to control rodent activity, as rats and mice can easily pass from adjoining properties. In such circumstances, infestations can be incredibly difficult to control, as pest controllers and property owners may have no access to the source of the infestation, and an approach to the local Environmental Health department may be necessary.
So if rodents become established in a property, what risks do they pose, and what damage can they cause ?
Well, if you have rodents in your property, then the people living there are coming into contact with a public health pest that has the potential to carry a number of diseases and pathogens. The Common or Brown Rat for example often lives and travels through sewer systems; so, if rats have free access, what’s present in the sewer will also be present in the property. And not only can rodents transmit disease because of where they live, they can also carry life threatening diseases within their bodies. Rats carry Leptospirosis (Weils) disease in their kidneys, an infection that is transferred via their urine. Weils disease in humans has flu like symptoms, but can eventually result in the shut-down of vital organs and death. If a tenant develops such symptoms and are not aware they could be attributed to rodent activity, they can be dead before the cause is discovered.
Rodents can also be incredibly destructive. Their incisor teeth are very strong, grow constantly throughout their life, and must be regularly worn down by gnawing. This means not only will rodents damage items to get to foodstuffs, they will also damage items to simply wear their teeth back. Wood, brick, plastic and mild steel are all fair game for a gnawing rodent, and water tanks, gas pipes and electrical cabling are commonly damaged. If you have an uncontrolled rodent infestation in your property, you are literally ‘playing with fire’, or flood, as they gnaw through essential services. And remember, grey squirrels may be fun to watch in the garden, but they are also rodents and will cause untold damage if they can establish themselves in loft spaces.
Insects also damage properties and reputations. Bed bugs for example can be extremely problematic in the rental sector, especially if a property has a number of tenants over a period of time. Bed bugs are insects that feed on blood and often live around the bedrooms of unsuspecting human hosts. They are flat, oval insects that are designed to hide in the smallest, deepest crack or crevice. They grow considerably in size as they feed, expanding many times beyond their adult apple-pip size. Bed bugs cannot fly and do not jump, and are traditionally transferred into properties amongst clothing, suitcases and furniture.
Once established, bed bugs can be incredibly difficult to deal with due to their ability to hide in inaccessible locations, and survive starvation for several months. It is not unusual for tenants to move into an empty property and be faced with immediate problems when an existing bed bug population detects a host and is drawn out from harbourage points. It is also worth noting that bed bugs are rugged insects that can crawl long distances in search of a feed. High density living locations such as flats, hostels, student accommodation and hotels are typically locations where bed bugs can expand rapidly and infest large areas in relatively short periods of time. Bed bug infestations should not go unchecked and rapid detection and treatment is the key to successful eradication.
As with the bed bug, fleas can create headaches for landlords and tenants. Fleas have the ability to diapause (go into suspended animation). This means that fleas can lay dormant for many months in a property awaiting a suitable source to feed upon. Obviously, after a long period in diapause, fleas awake ravenous, and attack with vigour anybody present as they search out a blood meal. As a new tenant to a property, this can be incredibly distressing and, again, a thorough treatment will be required to remove this pest. As with bed bugs and rodents, fleas should be treated by a qualified pest control specialist who understands the pest and the products they are dealing with.
The question often asked by Tenants and Landlords is ‘who is responsible for dealing with infestations?’
The Housing Act 2004 states that ‘residential premises should provide a safe and healthy environment for any potential occupant or visitor’. In this respect, it is quite clear that landlords have a responsibility for the health of their tenants, especially regarding what can be termed as ‘public health’ pests that carry disease spreading potential, such as rodents. However, as has been highlighted in this article, disease potential is just one of many risks caused by pest species. The damage to property, foodstuffs, reputations and the legal consequences of uncontrolled pest infestations must all be considered by any landlord or tenant when faced with pest activity. The key to controlling pest infestations is maintaining close working relationships between tenants and landlords, and ensuring that the pest control contractor used is a reputable company that has insurance, adequately trained staff and a secure trading history. By using a BPCA member, you can be assured of the credibility of the contractor, as they have met our membership criteria, and abide by our Codes of Practice and Conduct.
To find a BPCA member in your area, visit www.bpca.org.uk, or alternatively contact the BPCA office on 01332 294288.
BPCA publish alexo designed to help those who manage premises to minimise their risk from public health pests. The magazine contains feature articles on different aspects of pest control and public health, an A-Z directory of pest controllers and gutsy editorial. There is no subscription fee – register for your copy now at www.alexo.org.uk/subscribe.
