- Responsibility for Pest Control – Most pest issues are the body corporate’s responsibility.
- Reducing the Risk of Pests – Maintain cleanliness and conduct regular maintenance to keep pests at bay.
- Importance of Pest Control – Essential for health, property value, and community harmony.
- Pest Control Services – Ensure services are licensed and qualified for effective treatment.
As we move into the cooler months of the year, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about your pest control strategy. The time of year when pests have the least energy due to the lack of heat is winter, which is a period when insects don’t need as much food and are less likely to damage your property while searching for it. However, when it comes to shared property, such as a strata, planning your pest control strategy becomes a bit more complicated. What are you allowed to do in which area? Body corporate pest control can be a confusing process. That’s why we’ve put together our guide to pest control for body corporates.
Who is Responsible for Pest Control?
Generally, 99% of pest-related problems are the responsibility of the corporate body. These body corporate responsibilities include things like periodic pest inspections and taking steps to prevent pest infestations on the shared property.
That said, if a pest inspection or treatment is needed only on a particular lot (a specific part of a strata property owned by an individual), the lot owner is responsible for this instead. However, it may be possible to treat lots and common property simultaneously for a more efficient treatment.
From Northern Beaches to Sydney, whether it’s a lot or a shared area, prompt action is key. If you leave it and large-scale damage occurs, such as structural damage from termite infestations or health hazards from rodent infestations, the damage may be expensive to repair. It may not be covered by your insurance.
If your body corporate’s pest control only covers community property, we recommend obtaining regular pest treatment services for inspections within your lot.
How Can We Reduce the Risk of Pests?
Whether you’re a lot owner or a member of the body corporate, there are several things you can do to prevent pest infestation.
Ensure cleanliness
One thing you can do, regardless of your role in the strata community, is to ensure cleanliness. Regular cleaning is critical in communal areas. This means performing frequent routine cleaning, as well as timely emptying of trash bins as soon as they are full so pests like flies and mosquitoes don’t have a chance to breed in them. Proper strata cleanliness also means removing traces of food promptly, both after picnics or barbecues and in the kitchen. If you store wood, be sure to check for rotting wood and remove it as quickly as possible before it becomes a home for snakes or rats.
Carry out maintenance
Another vital way to prevent pest infestations in body corporate pest control is to carry out regular maintenance. This means repairing ant and roach-friendly leaks underneath or on top of your sink.
Why is Pest Control Important for Strata Properties?
Body corporate pest control is about more than just keeping your strata property clean; it is key to retaining your property’s value and ensuring all residents enjoy a high quality of life. Sure, dealing with a pest infestation can be annoying. However, when you neglect body corporate pest control, the consequences extend far beyond mere inconvenience.
Health and Wellbeing
You are likely aware that most pest infestations can have a negative impact on your health. Rodents and cockroaches, for example, are known to carry and spread diseases. Therefore, it’s essential to stay vigilant about body corporate pest control to maintain a safe environment for residents.
Pest infestations can also trigger respiratory issues and allergies in individuals with pre-existing conditions. Effective and prompt body corporate pest control prevents these health hazards, ensuring a comfortable and safe living space for everyone.
Long-Term Savings
As we touched upon, keeping your Sydney building pest-free can help a strata property not only retain its current value but also help you build value.
Body corporate pest control also means you can save money in the long run by preventing infestations rather than needing to repair extensive damage or deal with regular pest problems.
Harmony in the Strata Community
As you are aware, from the North Shore to the Northern Beaches, strata properties are typically shared, with common areas accessible to all residents. So, if a pest infestation occurs in these spaces, tension would quickly rise among the residents. That’s another reason why body corporate pest control is so important. Proactive body corporate pest control means people can enjoy their shared spaces without worrying about pests.
Body corporate pest control also means tenants in rental units have greater satisfaction. As a landlord, body corporate pest control means you face less turnover, and it gives your strata community a positive reputation.
Pest Control Services
Now, you know how the body corporate is responsible for addressing pest problems in community areas and properties. However, since body corporate pest control coverage can vary, consider getting regular pest control inspections for areas that aren’t otherwise covered. Just be sure your pest control services are licensed and qualified, with a current licence number followed by “PMT TP” (Pest Management Technician Timber Pest).
If you need a pest control service for your Northern Beaches home or would like a free quote, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
GET IN TOUCH