Illegal Pest Control Fees Are Written Into California Rental Leases

Take a closer look at your California rental lease and see if you are being illegally charged for pest control fees that should be covered by the landlord.

As it turns out, there are a variety of pest control issues that may be written into your lease agreement. If you find any of these illegal clauses in the lease – or even if you just suspect them to exist – it’s important that you review the terms carefully and seek legal advice about how to best approach this situation.

Some common illegal pest control clauses you may find in your rental lease include:

A clause stating that the landlord is not responsible for pest control or exterminating pests from the property. This violates California tenant rights as landlords are required to take reasonable steps to minimize pests on their property. If a pest problem exists, it’s up to the landlord to hire an exterminator to solve the issue.
A clause stating that the tenant is responsible for all pest control costs, regardless of how the pests entered the property. This includes costs for extermination, damage repairs, and even related medical bills if someone is injured by a pest. In California, landlords are only allowed to charge tenants for pest control if the pests are caused by the tenant’s own negligence or recklessness.
A clause stating that the tenant must allow access to their property for pest control purposes without notifying them in advance. This is a violation of privacy rights, as tenants have the right to refuse entry if they are not given advanced notice. Additionally, landlords cannot show up unannounced to enter a tenant’s unit, they must always give at least 24 hours’ notice before doing so.
A clause stating that the tenant is not allowed to use any pesticides or other pest control methods on their own. This takes away the tenant’s right to protect their own property and could potentially lead to dangerous situations if there is an infestation.

Pest control is generally included in the rental lease as the landlord’s responsibility. Before signing a rental lease, you should check if it says that the landlord is delivering the unit in good condition and is going to take care of the pest control on the property financially.

Contact our Consumer Attorneys

If you find any of these clauses in your lease agreement, it’s important that you seek legal advice about how to proceed. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and options under California law. They can also help you negotiate with your landlord to have the illegal clause removed from the lease or reach a fair resolution if you’ve already been charged for pest control services.

Don’t let yourself be taken advantage of by an unscrupulous landlord – make sure you know your rights when it comes to illegal pest control fees in California!

If you have already signed a lease and are being charged a pest control fee, you should contact our consumer attorneys. We represent clients in California who are being illegally charged pest control fees.