Q: What is considered a "problem" with mice? Am I required as the landlord to use a professional pest control company?
My tenant, who rents the upstairs from me (I live in the downstairs unit) is complaining of mice. I regularly put poison and traps out in my unit and had a pro pest control company assess twice and put out poison + traps in her unit (company did not think there was a problem that needed more than a few traps + poison bait stations). Tenant has prepaid rent by doing improvements and repairs on her unit up front. Lease says that after 30 days tenant will be responsible for pest control. Can I save money and buy the poison and traps to put in her unit myself (same stuff as the pest company used)? It's an old house, and it's winter now, so being 100% free of mice 100% of the time seems like an unreasonable demand on her part. Could she take any action against me if I DIY with the chemicals and traps the pest guy unofficially told me to buy and use?
A: You aren't going to find a statute addressing all of your specific facts. If you and your tenant cannot come to agreement and if one of you files suit then the court would need to decide whether you've provided a habitable place.
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