In this time of recession, property owners and management professionals,  like other business people, are looking for ways to cut costs.  One place to cut costs is service contractors.  One of the first services to be leaned on for price concessions or to be cancelled is pest control.  But property executives should think long and hard before making any cuts in this area.  The decision to attempt the realization of cost savings by reducing or eliminating this vital service could be a huge mistake, with serious consequences for your profitability.  I recommend that you begin thinking of pest control as very reasonably priced insurance, against potentially huge losses.  Why do I say this?  Read on and find out. 

In most states, counties, cities and towns across the U.S. pest control is the responsibility of the landlord, period, end of discussion; Even if the tenant is responsible for originally bringing the pest onto the premises or creating the conditions conducive to pest infestation.  The tenant is viewed, by many, whether rightly or wrongly, as the innocent, little guy who is dominated by the big, evil, money-hungry landlord.  Property managers should keep in mind that this isn't going to change any time soon.  A growing number of government agencies are putting tenant-protection regulations in place which mandate scheduled, inspections of properties, by government agents.  Those agents are looking for violations of rental property statutes where the health and safety of tenants are concerned.  In these times of shrinking tax receipts and revenues, they're sure to be interested in enhancing their agencies' cash flow by levying any and all fines that they can, within the law.  In some parts of the country an uncontrolled pest infestation can cost hundreds of dollars per violation, per day!  One source recently told me that in some parts of the country such fines can cost a landlord in excess of $1,000.00 per day, per infested unit.  In one case a management company was threatened with fines of $1500.00 per day!

But fines are not the only concern when it comes to pests.  Creatures such as rodents, cockroaches, bats and feral birds carry and transmit dozens of diseases that can infect humans.  If a tenant is infected by exposure to uncontrolled pests a property owner may be sued.  In our ever-increasingly litigious society there are plenty of plaintiff's attorneys waiting to take cases and go for large settlements or awards, "on behalf of," any clients who desire generous compensation.

The last leg of this three-legged stool and possibly the one with the biggest impact over time, is reputation, which affects the marketability of rental units.  Once a property, management company or property owner gets a bad reputation because of serious vermin (and other pest) problems, rehabilitation of that image will be difficult, to put it mildly.  The resulting rise in vacancy rates can be devastating to the bottom line.  I personally know of more than one case where entire buildings had to be vacated and treated from top to bottom to eliminate cockroaches and other pests.  Following that, the properties had to be renamed and remarketed to rehabilitate them into profitable ventures.

To summarize:  Cutting costs by cutting pest control services can have a serious and expensive impact, beyond the original investment in these vital services.  It seems to me that the much wiser approach is to continue retaining the services of a pest professional; A decision that will help guard against expensive, future losses.