Whether it's a condo complex or an entire neighborhood of single-family homes, managing pests is an issue that affects every resident. In many cases, the homeowner's association is responsible for pest control for at least the common areas, but depending on the state and the community bylaws, they may also be responsible for residence pest control. Understanding the types of pest control necessary can help your HOA make a treatment decision.
Common Areas
Common area pest control almost always falls under the purview of the HOA, and the service should be covered by the dues paid by homeowners. Pests in common areas depend on the type of area. In buildings, common areas include hallways, parking garages, clubhouses, and laundry rooms. Rats, mice, and insects like roaches are the primary concern for indoor common areas. Outdoors, gardens, parks, pathways, and recreation parks and fields are considered common spaces. Pests in these outdoor areas can include rodents, as well as insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Other animal pests, such as skunks or raccoons, can also periodically pose an issue. On building roofs, control for bird pests like pigeons may be needed, as well.
Private Residences
Rodents and insects are the main concern for private residents. In the case of condominiums and other multi-family homes, it's vital that individual residences are treated at the same time as indoor common areas in order to ensure that the pest issue doesn't resurface. If private residences aren't covered by the HOA, consider negotiating with your pest control service to provide discounted services to residences in order to encourage complete compliance with the pest treatment. For single-family homes, where private residence treatment isn't as vital to community pest management, negotiating a discount can still encourage goodwill between the homeowners and the HOA.
Special Considerations
It's important to review your state regulations and HOA bylaws before scheduling pest control, particularly for control within private residences. In some states, residents must allow HOA approved extermination, while in others the HOA can only enforce extermination if it is detailed as required in the bylaws. In all cases, it is important to consult with residents to make sure the pesticides being used won't pose a hazard to children, pets, or allergic individuals. You can do this by giving residents the option for pet and child-safe alternatives.
Contact an HOA pest control service for more information in managing issues in your community.
Most pest infestations can quickly get out of hand if you do not address them. There is a reason people joke about "breeding like mice." You can go from having two mice in your home to having hundreds in a matter of weeks! When you think there are pests inside your home, you need to take control, and quickly. You take control by calling in a pest control professional. They can use a combination of trapping, poisoning, and cleanup methods to eradicate the pests. Learn more about these methods and about other pest control topics on this website, created to educate people like you about the pest control industry.