Pest control is important year-round, but it is particularly relevant in the winter. Most insects and rodents don’t die off during the colder months: instead, they flee toward warmth and shelter. This means that your rental home or apartment building looks very inviting right now, and your tenants are most at risk of a pest infestation.
To keep your building pest-free, we recommend a proactive approach that includes regular inspections and treatment. This winter, it’s a good idea to talk to your tenants about common Ohio pests and the responsibilities of all parties involved to keep the building free of insects and rodents.
Common Winter Pests
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are a year-round pest that come indoors seeking food, moisture, and warm temperatures. They may scurry in through cracks or hitchhike on bags, shoes, or secondhand items. They thrive in messy homes and in places with leaks.
Mice and rats
Like cockroaches, rodents come inside to find food and escape the cold. They can also squeeze through cracks and crevices to enter the building. Rodents love places with food and clutter with which to build their nests.
Spiders
Most spiders are found indoors throughout the year, but during the winter they are often more visible. They find their way inside through cracks, in potted plants, in boxes, and in firewood. While they are mostly a nuisance, spiders can be a serious problem if they are found in large numbers or if the tenant finds a venomous species.
Stink bugs
This shield-shaped bug is more annoying than anything else, but it can certainly cause a stink if crushed (hence the name). Stink bugs can enter the building through cracks and vents.
Bed bugs
While bed bugs are a serious problem year-round, holiday travel makes people more likely to spread them in the winter. Bed bugs can find their way into your rental by hitchhiking on a person (or their belongings) or a secondhand item. Once bed bugs have infested a home, they can be extremely difficult to exterminate.
How to Keep Your Property Pest-Free
Maintaining a property involves both the property manager and the tenants. In general, it’s the property manager’s responsibility to provide habitable housing and to make repairs, and it’s the tenant’s responsibility to keep the space safe and sanitary and to alert the property manager to problems.
Here are a few things that property managers and tenants should do to keep pests outside, where they belong.
Property managers should:
- Keep common areas clean and free of food and trash that would attract cockroaches and rodents.
- Seal any cracks or crevices and patch any holes that would let in pests.
- Fix leaks and eliminate excess moisture to avoid attracting cockroaches.
- Talk with tenants about how to recognize the signs of a pest infestation and remind them that they should let management know of any problems.
Tenants should:
- Perform routine cleaning (wiping down counters, vacuuming, and taking out the trash) to avoid attracting cockroaches and rodents.
- Keep food stored in airtight containers, away from pests.
- Learn how to check for bed bugs and inspect belongings after travel and after purchasing used items.
- Alert management immediately after finding signs of pests.
We Can Help
We’re here to help you keep your property pest-free and protect your investment. Our experienced pest control professionals will recommend proactive strategies to prevent pests, perform routine maintenance, and respond immediately to any pest problems.
Scherzinger Pest Control is a trusted pest control company in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, including Dayton, OH, and now Columbus, OH. We’ve been pioneers, engineering new standards for ways of eliminating and controlling bugs and pests. Contact us by phone at 1-877-748-9888 or through our website, Facebook, or Twitter.