Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Georgia
I just recently purchased a duplex. In one of the units, a lady has a bad habit of hoarding. She has done stuff like leaving rotting fruit on the floor as well as pet urine. Right before we purchased the unit, the previous owner gave her a 3-day notice to get it clean or she would be evicted. She did get the place cleaned out, but it is still infested with roaches. I agreed to pay for one visit from pest control even though her lease states that the tenant is responsible. I told her it would probably take more than one treatment and that I expected her to pay for the rest. She is arguing the GA law requires the landlord to pay for pest control. Do I have to provide it?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Since you have a problem tenant and there is a lease, don't renew it.
While landlords have a duty to repair, Georgia law does allow a lease to make a tenant responsible for pest control. However, to the extent the pest problem may com e from other than her unit, you might be held reponsible. Your legal fees to fight over it will cost far more than paying an exterminator.
If you're going to be a landlord you need to pay a lawyer to have a proper lease customized to the unit and NOT a form.
While you may not have to if the lease provides, you will have much bigger problems if it is not taken care of now. An exterminator is a relatively small expense and if left undone it can damage the entire property. It can also lead to making the units uninhabitable, and a larger expense of having to exterminate in the walls (or tent the building, etc.). Take care of your property first, and get rid of problem tenants.
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