- Resilience & Reproduction: Cockroaches reproduce quickly, and a small issue can escalate if not addressed promptly, potentially affecting multiple units.
- Seeking Sustenance & Shelter: They are drawn to food particles, moisture, and warmth, commonly found in kitchen and bathroom areas.
- Hiding and Spreading: They conceal themselves in cracks, behind appliances, and under sinks. They can move between apartments via wall voids, plumbing, wiring, and shared ventilation systems.
- Health Considerations & Persistence: Cockroach presence can be linked to allergies and asthma triggers. Their ability to travel between units makes complete removal from a multi-unit building challenging.
Tenant Actions & Preparation
While the landlord is primarily responsible for pest control, tenants play an important role:
- Notify Your Landlord Promptly & In Writing: This is a critical first step. Inform your landlord or property manager in writing (email or dated letter) as soon as you identify a cockroach problem. State the issue clearly and request pest control services. Keep a copy of your notice. This creates an essential record.
- Document the Situation: Keep records. Take clear photos or videos of cockroaches or evidence like droppings. Note dates and times of sightings. Keep copies of all communications with your landlord and records of any preparation steps you take and pest control service dates.
- Cooperate with Pest Control Efforts: Allow access for inspection and treatment by the landlord or their chosen pest control professional, provided proper written notice (usually 24 hours) is given. Complete the preparation tasks required by the pest control service (e.g., cleaning specified areas, clearing cupboards). Cooperation is necessary for effective treatment.
- Maintain Unit Cleanliness:
- Sanitation: Clean up food spills, crumbs, and grease promptly. Wash dishes soon after use. Store food in sealed containers. Regularly empty garbage into bins with secure lids.
- Reduce Clutter: Keep floors and surfaces clear, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms, to minimize potential hiding places.
- Report Leaks: Inform your landlord immediately about any plumbing leaks or moisture issues.
Landlord Responsibilities under Ontario’s RTA
Ontario landlords must maintain rental properties in a good state of repair and ensure they are fit for habitation, which includes managing pest infestations. Key duties include:
- Act Upon Notification: After receiving notice from a tenant (preferably written), the landlord must take reasonable and timely steps to address the cockroach infestation.
- Arrange Professional Pest Control: Landlords are generally responsible for hiring and covering the cost of qualified pest control services.
- Address Structural Issues & Entry Points: Inspect and seal pathways cockroaches use between units and common areas (e.g., gaps around pipes, wiring, vents, cracks in walls).
- Repair Moisture Problems: Fix leaks or other sources of excess moisture that attract pests.
- Ensure Comprehensive Treatment: Coordinate with the pest control provider to ensure the treatment plan adequately addresses the infestation, potentially including adjacent units and common areas (hallways, laundry rooms, garbage areas).
- Provide Clear Instructions & Support: Communicate the treatment schedule, required preparations, and safety information to tenants. Offer reasonable assistance or accommodations for tenants who may face challenges with preparation.
- Maintain Common Areas: Keep shared spaces clean and address conditions that could support pest populations.
Addressing Landlord Inaction
If you have properly notified your landlord in writing and they have not taken timely or adequate steps to resolve the cockroach infestation:
- Follow Up in Writing: Send a second written notice referencing your initial communication and reiterating the need for action.
- Apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB): You have the right to file an application with the LTB (Form T6: Tenant Application about Maintenance). Filing promptly after the landlord fails to act is advisable. Through the LTB, you can seek an order requiring the landlord to address the infestation, potentially request a rent abatement (rent reduction) for the time the unit was affected, and pursue other remedies. Ensure you submit copies of your documentation (notices, photos, logs) with your application.
Understanding your responsibilities and rights under the RTA, communicating clearly, and keeping good records are important steps in ensuring cockroach infestations in rental apartments are addressed effectively.