Long-term lets: disinfection before, during and between tenancies

A slower risk, but a deeper one

In short-term letting an infestation surfaces within weeks because someone looks at the property every few nights. Under a standard lease it can develop for months before being reported: tenants often hesitate, out of embarrassment or fear of being held responsible.

The result is a wider infestation by the time treatment happens: several rooms affected, the tenant's own furniture to treat, and sometimes neighbouring flats already involved. Cost and duration rise accordingly.

House shares and mobility leases combine both regimes: frequent occupant turnover, as in short-term letting, but no inspection of the property between arrivals. Statistically they are the most exposed configurations in a rental portfolio.

Vacancy is your best window

Between tenancies the property is empty and often cleared of furniture: the ideal moment for a full inspection and, where needed, treatment — for bed bugs, cockroaches or rodents alike. Work is faster, more effective and cheaper than in an occupied property.

Record the visit in the check-in inventory: inspection date, company, conclusion. That entry protects both parties — it establishes the state of the property at handover and makes the question of attribution far clearer if an infestation appears later.

During the tenancy: acting fast despite occupation

A tenant reporting pests deserves the same rapid answer as a guest. Treating an occupied property is entirely possible: it requires preparation by the tenant (linen washed and bagged, skirting boards cleared, access to furniture), which we set out in writing before the visit.

For buildings with a recurring problem — cockroaches in the kitchen riser, rodents in the basement — the only lasting solution is treatment coordinated with the building manager, covering common areas and several units at once. Treating flat by flat, spread over time, merely moves the population around.