Who Pays For Bed Bug Extermination in a Condo?
Aside from residential establishments, bed bugs are now becoming an issue in condominium buildings. Condo associations usually deal with common building issues like mould, sewer backups, and water leaks. However, not everyone is aware of how issues regarding pests especially bed bugs are handled in these establishments.
Who is Responsible for Maintenance?
When it comes to condominium corporations, it is the responsibility of the owner to maintain the interior or their unit. Since these critters don’t start in condo communities’ common elements, maintenance should be handled by the unit owners.
How Can They Get Into Condominium Units?
Given that these pests are not common in condo units, it is still possible for some units to have an infestation. There are various ways on how a bed bug infestation can start in one unit and spread to other units.
Since these pests are great hitchhikers, they can come into a condo unit through backpacks, clothing, luggage, or even visitors coming from infested areas. Regardless if you have a clean home, these bugs will cling on anything and find a new place to hide in your home.
Without even knowing, an infestation is already starting especially when the bugs that hitchhiked on any of your belongings are pregnant. As their food source, they will only feed on you and are only attracted to your heat and scent.
In the long run, the infestation may also start spreading. This is possible especially when the main infestation is not treated properly.
What If Infestations Start Spreading to Other Units?
Now, the tricky part starts when the infestations spread to other units. Since these critters can go through any narrow spaces, they can easily go from one unit to another. Once the corporation is informed of the issue, it is only then when the corporation will take action before the infestation gets out of hand.
If in case the corporation fails to take action, they may become liable for the costs that may accumulate in treating these critters. This may even become a safety and health issue because people bitten by these critters may develop allergic reactions.
Responsibilities of the Owner
If an owner failed to maintain the interior of their unit, then the corporation will not take responsibility for whatever issues may arise regarding the neglect of the owner. This is also applicable when it comes to dealing with a bug problem.
An infestation is less likely to start within the premises of the building, especially when the corporation sticks to its maintenance protocols for the entire building. So, when an infestation starts in a single unit, the corporation is not liable for the issue or for treating the infestation.
The Responsibility of the Condo Corporation
The corporation will only get involved when the infestation starts spreading to more units. They must now prevent the bugs from spreading to more units. These critters can reach other units through adjoining walls, electrical wiring, and plumbing.
They now must eradicate these bugs through the use of pest control treatments to minimize the damage to other units. Also, the corporation may require the owners to treat the infestation in their units.
If in case the owners are unable to do what the corporation requires them for their units, the property management can handle the treatment. However, they will charge the owner for the incurred costs in treating the unit.
Being Proactive to Prevent an Infestation
Being proactive is one way of reducing the exposure of the owners to infestations. The corporation can provide necessary information to educate occupants regarding the critters, the causes of an infestation and also ways to eradicate them.
By providing necessary information, owners can prevent an infestation from starting and also protect their neighbouring units from getting infested as well. This will minimize the risks of exposing all units from having an infestation and possible costs on getting treatments in the long run.
