Discovering a pest infestation in your home can be incredibly distressing, especially if you have done everything you can to keep a clean home. It can be even more distressing to learn that the source of a pest infestation has come from a neighboring home or adjoining unit.
Unfortunately, Maryland laws don’t often include provisions for neighboring pests, and eliminating the infestation is still up to the homeowner.
Eliminating a pest infestation from a neighbor can be frustrating and expensive, but you reduce the burden by taking the right steps and educating yourself on the different options at your disposal.
What Pests Tend to Travel Across Properties?
While it’s possible for any pest or insect to make the jump from a neighboring property, the most common culprits are cockroaches, termites, and bed bugs. These pests are expert travelers and can make their way into even the cleanest of homes through cracks and crevices in the walls.
In particular, bed bugs are known to latch onto luggage, clothing, and furniture in order to gain access to a home, making them one of the most dreaded household pests that homeowners can encounter. Cockroaches tend to infest shared units where one tenant maintains a dirty or decrepit home.
Termites may swarm to a neighboring home if the right attractants, such as moisture and softwood, are available. One of the most telltale signs will be the presence of swarmers on your property in early spring. We recommend a termite inspection to rule out termites if you spot a swarmer or sign of a termite.
How to Handle Pests from a Neighbor’s House
The best way to handle pests from a neighbor’s house depends on your living situation. Below are a few ways you can rectify a pest problem coming from your neighbor’s house.
Identify the Source of the Pest Problem
If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, be sure to identify the source of the problem before pointing fingers. Unless you are sure the pests are coming from your neighbor’s house, you don’t want to assume that they’re the problem and create an awkward dynamic.
Often, a professional inspection will be required to determine the source and cause of an infestation.
Communicate with Your Neighbor
If you live in a standalone house that you own, you may want to talk to your neighbor directly about the problem. If this isn’t possible, it may be helpful to reach out to a professional pest control company to inspect your home and confirm that the pests are coming from your neighbor’s house.
A professional exterminator may even be able to advocate for you in the event that your neighbor is difficult to work with to come up with a solution.
Document the Issue
Whenever you encounter a pest infestation, it is important to document the issue to protect yourself. The best way to do this is to take photos with time stamps so that you can prove when and where the infestation occurred. This is especially important if you are a renter and are not responsible for pest control in your unit.
Contact Your Landlord or Property Manager (if applicable)
If you live in an apartment building, condo, or townhouse, contacting your landlord or neighborhood association may be the best course of action. Your landlord can talk to your neighbor and hire an exterminator to take care of the infestation in order to protect the other tenants.
By law, landlords are required to maintain a clean and sanitary property, which could mean that you may be off the hook for any pest control required in your unit that’s the result of another tenant.
Involve Local Pest Control Services
As mentioned earlier, contacting a pest control professional is wise if you cannot work things out with your neighbor. A local pest control company will be able to visit your home to inspect it and determine where the infestation is coming from.
In some cases, you may be able to split the cost to eliminate a pest control problem if the company can rectify the solution on both properties simultaneously.
File a Complaint with Local Authorities
If you’re not able to work things out with your neighbor directly, it may be time to escalate it by filing a complaint with local authorities. Contact your local borough or city officials as they will likely be able to visit your neighbor’s home to investigate the situation and provide a solution for both parties.
Preventative Measures to Protect Your Home
If your neighbors are dealing with a pest infestation, you’ll want to act fast and do everything you can to protect your home from the same pests. Some preventative measures you should take include:
- Having your home inspected by an exterminator
- Sealing cracks and crevices to prevent pests from getting in
- Maintain general cleanliness
- Properly store and seal all food and drinks
- Keep trash away from the house and covered
- Keep your grass and foliage neatly trimmed
By following these practices, you may be able to spare your home from a nasty pest infestation a neighbor is dealing with.
For added protection and peace of mind, consider investing in a residential pest control program that provides 365-day relief from common pests in your area. Using a combination of organic sprays, bait stations, and preventative measures, your local exterminator can secure your home from pests, including on a neighboring property.
FAQs
Can roaches travel from my neighbor’s house?
Yes, roaches absolutely can travel from one house to another. Cockroaches are good at squeezing through even the tiniest cracks and crevices, and if one neighbor has them, there is a good chance other homes nearby may also get them.
Can bed bugs travel from neighbors’ houses?
Yes, bed bugs are another type of pest that easily travels from one home to the next. These pests are more common in apartment buildings, where they can move between shared walls and pipes. Bed bugs can also enter a home on luggage, clothing, and used furniture.
How can I confirm that pests are coming from my neighbor’s house?
If you have been seeing pests in your home and suspect they may be coming from your neighbor’s house, a good way to confirm this is by looking for signs of pest activity near your property line. Pest droppings and nesting materials are common signs that a pest infestation may have originated at your neighbor’s house.
How do I document pest problems that seem to be originating from a neighboring property?
If you believe the pests in your home may have originated at your neighbor’s house, the best way to document this is by taking photos with time stamps. You can then show these photos to your landlord or local authorities for advice on what to do next.
Can my landlord or property manager help with pests coming from a neighbor’s home?
Yes, your landlord or property manager should be able to help with any pests coming from your neighbor’s home. They can hire an exterminator to inspect the property and treat any infestation.