
From cockroaches and bedbugs to mice and ants, there are many pests that can invade multi-unit housing complexes such as apartments and condos. Pest invasion in a multi-unit housing complex can be more serious and far-reaching than a single-family home, as it’s likely that one unit with a pest problem can quickly spread to multiple units.
As a property manager, here’s how to keep your units and tenants safe from pest invasion. The key is to hire a pest control company in Nashville, TN for regular and comprehensive treatments.
Check For Moisture Problems
Pests need food to survive, but even more importantly, they need water. This is why you will often find them congregating in areas of moisture, such as leaking faucets or pipes, or broken seals around windows and doors that are allowing the infiltration of moisture.
Regularly check the seals on your windows and doors from the outside. Keep an eye out for damp basements, garages, sheds, and other common areas. Direct downspouts away from the building and ensure proper drainage.
Keep Trash Areas Tidy
Rodents will make their homes in untended garbage collection areas in apartment complexes. Not only do these places act as a food source, they offer a nesting site to breed. Make routine maintenance checks of these areas, ensure trash bags actually make it into the dumpsters, tightly close all trash can lids, and get rid of random rubbish lurking around.
Seal Common Entry Points
Seal entry points with copper mesh, caulk, or sheet metal to keep pests out. Common entry points include dryer vents, as well as heating or air conditioning ducts. Perform seasonal checks to ensure door and window screens are free from holes, and make repairs as needed.
Include Cleanliness in Lease Agreements
Controlling pests in apartments requires that staff, management, and tenants cooperate and work together. Add a clause in your contract or lease agreement that outlines expectations of cleanliness regarding trash removal, housekeeping, sanitation, and prompt reporting of issues that may lead to pest problems.
Listen to Your Tenants
You may feel like tenants who report pest control problems are just complaining, but this is a serious issue that must be addressed quickly. You don’t want a small issue to morph into a serious one, which can happen quickly in a multi-unit housing complex.
For example, cockroaches can quickly move from one apartment to the next via shared ceilings or walls. If you’re seeing a roach problem in one unit, chances are, it’s happening in several. Nipping the problem in the bud at the first sign can prevent the whole apartment complex from getting infested. This not only saves you hassle, but money as well. As you can imagine, whole-complex pest issues are complex and costly.
Call PureGuard Pest Solutions in Nashville, TN
If you are a property manager who has encountered pest infestation recently, prompt action is key. Don’t hesitate to schedule a free inspection and quote when you contact us today at 615-502-2855.