Pest Management for Bodies Corporate
Pest problems in strata are rarely contained to one lot.
Pest management across common property
Pest problems in strata are rarely contained to one lot. That is the whole difficulty.
A cockroach issue in a ground floor unit, rodents in a service riser, birds nesting in a plant room. Each of these crosses the boundary between lot and common property, and the question of who is responsible for dealing with it comes up before anyone has actually solved the problem.
What we assess
- Evidence of pest activity across common property
- Entry points, harbourage and the building conditions supporting the problem
- Whether the source sits in common property or within lots
- Recommended treatment and prevention measures
Prevention is mostly building maintenance
Most persistent pest problems in strata buildings are maintenance problems wearing a different hat. Gaps around penetrations. Standing water in a plant room. Bin areas that cannot be cleaned properly. Damaged door seals on a basement.
Treating without fixing those conditions produces a cycle where the pest controller returns every few months and the committee wonders why the money keeps going out. A report that identifies the building conditions gives a committee something to actually act on.
Termites are a separate matter
Termite activity is assessed differently and carries different consequences, so we treat it as its own service. If you suspect termites rather than general pest activity, that is a termite inspection.
Working with committees and strata managers
We report to the party that engaged us, in a format a committee can put in front of owners. Where the source of a problem sits inside a lot, we say so plainly, because the alternative is a committee spending common property money on something it has no obligation to fix.
Frequently asked questions
Does the body corporate have to deal with pests inside a lot?
Generally the responsibility follows the boundary. Common property is the body corporate’s, and what happens inside a lot is usually the owner’s or occupier’s. It becomes more complicated when the source is in common property and the symptoms appear in lots, which is exactly the situation a report is useful for.
How often should common property be inspected?
It depends on the building, the climate and the history. Coastal Queensland schemes with basement car parks and shared bin rooms generally need more attention than a small inland complex.
Do you carry out the treatment as well?
We assess and report. Scope is agreed with you when the work is quoted.
Call 07 5573 4011 to discuss pest management for your scheme.
