Apartment & Rental Pest Control Checklist

Before moving in: Inspect mattress corners and seams for bed bug feces (black spots); check baseboards and near power outlets for cockroach or rodent droppings

Before moving in: Check that door and window seals are intact, all screens are hole-free, and door bottom gaps are no larger than 6mm — photograph all pest evidence and demand landlord treatment before signing

Before moving in: Inspect kitchen cabinet interiors and under-sink areas for pest activity; check bathroom floor drain seals and exhaust fan pest mesh

Tenant daily duty: Keep the unit clean — wash dishes after meals, take out trash daily, store food in sealed containers — deny pests food and water

Tenant duty: Report pest signs (live insects, droppings, gnaw marks) in writing to the landlord or property manager within 24 hours — do not delay; small problems become major infestations

Tenant cooperation: Cooperate with landlord-arranged pest control service — move furniture as directed, seal food, vacate temporarily, and re-enter only after the specified waiting period

Landlord duty: Complete a full pest inspection before tenant move-in and retain records; maintain structural seals (doors, windows, plumbing penetrations, exterior wall cracks)

Landlord duty: Schedule routine professional pest control (quarterly building-wide inspection recommended); inspect common areas (hallways, trash rooms, basements) monthly

Landlord duty: Address structural pest issues (termites, rodent infestation, bed bugs) — this is a legal obligation of the landlord and cannot be delegated to the tenant

Emergency: If bed bugs are found — immediately isolate the affected room, hot-wash all fabrics, contact a professional pest control company, and inspect adjacent rooms simultaneously

Lease terms: Define pest control responsibilities in the lease — structural issues paid by landlord, sanitation issues paid by tenant, mandatory X-day notification period for pest discoveries