PEST CONTROL - who is responsible?

The terminology ‘pest control’ can cover many different types of pest and vermin, such as:

·       Fleas

·       Cockroaches

·       Ants

·       Spiders (i.e. Redbacks)

·       Rats & Mice

·       Snakes & Possums

·       Bees & Wasps

·       White ants

All of these pests and vermin at some stage may become evident in rental properties… So who is responsible for pest control?

In many States the legislation relating to pest control can be very unclear and is often open to interpretation. 

A tenant is responsible for keeping the property clean, while the owner is responsible for maintaining the property in a safe state of repair, fit for the tenant to reside.

There are also many local types of council who enforce health and safety by-laws for residential property owners to undertake pest control on an annual basis for pest and vermin, namely cockroaches.

The only pest that is clearly the tenant’s responsibility is fleas.  The presence of fleas is a result of the tenant owning a pet that is not directly related to the maintenance of the property.  When a tenant vacates the property it is a condition of their tenancy agreement to undertake flea treatment control.

As a managing agent we appreciate that many of the listed pests can be eradicated by simple supermarket products, such as inspect spray, baits and traps, which would be our first recommendation to the tenant. 

However, if a tenant is concerned about their safety then it would need to be addressed by the property owner.

Pest Control Summary:

• Cockroaches can be treated under a 12 month warranty.
• Ants are a difficult pest to eradicate and would only pose a concern if they were harmful.
• Spiders can be treated under a 12 month warranty and should be actioned quickly if the spider is harmful – i.e. redbacks.
• Rats & mice can be treated with baits.  It is important to eradicate these pests as they can cause serious damage to appliances and internal electrical wiring, costing far more than the treatment cost.
• Snakes can be a scary animal to remove.  Possums can also be a nuisance pest if they start nesting in the roof, which can result in property damage.  Wildlife specialists are the best point of contact to assist in removing these from the property. 
• Bees & Wasps can become aggressive and dangerous if their nest is in danger.  The treatment of bees and wasps is a concern if the tenant is allergic to them.
• White ant activity in a rental property should be checked at least annually by the owner.  

All other pests would most often become the responsibility of the property owner, with the exception of it being clearly proven that the presence of the pest was caused from the tenant’s lack of cleanliness or poor house-keeping. If the tenant was not disposing of perishable rubbish or was undertaking activities that increased the presence of pests it could be argued that it is a tenant responsibility.

Anzac day

LEST WE FORGET A soldier is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to their country for an amount up to, and including, their life! That is an honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact! Copy and paste this if you are thankful for your freedom. THANK ALL OUR DEFENCE FORCE .......MONDAY - ANZAC DAY

David's March 2011 - Market Comment.

2011 has proven to be a difficult period.

Sales volume is back by as much as 50%, with prices starting to press 10% under last years, represented by drops of $10,000 to $30,000. This is very significant, and depending on which side of the transaction you’re on, it could be good or bad.

For buyers, this is a real opportunity to secure some excellent property at very realistic prices. If you are selling and buying, it is an opportunity to reduce your changeover costs significantly and, potentially be fortunate to re-buy favourably - basically good either way.

The real difficulty lies with sellers forced to sell now through all sorts of circumstance such as job relocation, job insecurity, partnership split to name just a few. For many of today’s sellers the decision becomes a choice of, "do I want to lose $$$? What are the options?"

Within 5km of our David Deane office, 1200 homes are listed for sale, with around only 100 selling each month.  More precisely, 1100 don't sell. That’s 92%!

These homes are priced right across the price spectrum, so competition for buyers is fierce.

Homes that are selling are either extraordinarily well presented, neat, tidy and desirable, or, they have an obvious price advantage over the 1-200 homes they are directly competing against.

This means a very experienced agent with great marketing, communication and negotiating skills, working hard for you, is essential!

The truth is, most offices don't sell enough homes, or attract enough buyers, to make the grade, let alone be able to properly serve their client’s needs.

From the outside looking in, it certainly appears most agents are much the same. This is not the case, as you’ll discover, if you look at the sales results and the real numbers of each agency.

We as a team are working harder than ever on solutions and client focus.  We want the very best result that we can achieve by leaving no stone unturned for our clients, and especially, our sellers!

Our bright, new office is now fully operational and well worth a visit – just some minor finishing touches to go. As a result, we are attracting significantly more enquiry from buyers and tenants, and that is uplifting to us all. 

We have some friendly new staff on board to handle the load

We have a positive view of where we are and where we want to be – That is, to best serve our client base.

I personally invite you to call in and check us out.

David Deane