Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Minnesota

So who pays for removal of vermin?

A tenant has left one of our properties without notice. The property is in a rural area, a single family mobile home. Trash and garbage were strewn and piled all over the grounds. Because of this, a family of skunks has decided to nest under the mobile home. We are currently preparing our claim for Conciliation Court.

My question is -- who must bear the cost for extermination and removal of the skunks? We have never previously had a problem with ''critters'' on this property. Needless to say, a professional ''skunk remover'' is not cheap.


Asked on 4/22/02, 8:09 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
David Kelly-952-544-6356 Kelly Law Office

Re: So who pays for removal of vermin?

Sounds like a stinky question.

Sorry - couldn't resist the opportunity.

Before you clean up the place, show it to your skunk removers. Let them write a letter - and have it notarized - saying that the unsanitary condition created by the renters attracted the skunks; and had they properly cared for the place the problem would never have happened.

Then add the skunk removal to your claim and hope for the best.

Sounds like a good claim to me. The problem will be trying to collect from these people. You may have trouble even finding them.

Good luck.

This response is for general information purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are advised to consult the lawyer of your choice concerning the details of your case.

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Answered on 4/22/02, 6:21 pm


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