What residents can do now, when to involve management, and why indiscriminate spraying is a poor starting point.
If you find pests in your rental, document where they appear, remove accessible food and water sources, and notify your property manager. Avoid treating every pest problem with the same spray. The right response depends on the pest, the building, and whether activity extends beyond your home.
Early reporting gives management useful information before several residents start separate treatments. You do not need to know the species or prove where the pests came from to report what you see.
What can you do before treatment?
The EPA’s pest-control guidance recommends prevention first: reduce food, water, shelter, and entry opportunities. Put food into closed containers, clean up crumbs and spills, and keep food waste contained. Report dripping plumbing or moisture that returns after cleaning.
Look for visible gaps around doors or damaged screens from a safe, accessible position. Tell management what you notice rather than altering building components yourself. Keep the description specific: “Gap below the kitchen exterior door” is more useful than “The whole apartment needs sealing.”
These steps can make a home less attractive to pests. They do not establish who caused an infestation or who must pay for treatment.
Why identification changes the response
Ants, rodents, cockroaches, and bedbugs require different approaches. A product that kills insects on contact may leave the underlying problem unresolved. For ants specifically, UC Integrated Pest Management’s guidance explains how targeted baiting and removing attractants can be more useful than repeatedly spraying visible trails.
Do not apply that ant advice to an unidentified insect. If you use any pesticide, follow its label, including placement and precautions for children and pets. Tell the treatment provider what you have already applied so they can account for it.
What belongs in a maintenance report?
Use Advent’s maintenance request page for a nonemergency request. Include the room or exterior area, when you first noticed activity, whether it is recurring, and any related leak or opening. A clear photo can help when it is safe to take one.
| Observation | Useful detail to report |
|---|---|
| Pests near a sink | Exact location, frequency, and any visible moisture |
| Activity near a door or shared area | Entry point or nearby area you can identify safely |
| Activity after previous treatment | Treatment date, what changed, and where pests remain |
A useful report describes the activity and surrounding conditions without guessing at its cause.
Keep a short log if the problem is intermittent. Record observations instead of conclusions about a neighbor, a prior resident, or the building’s condition. That makes the report easier to investigate.
When does management need to coordinate?
A recurring leak, building opening, or activity in a shared area may require work beyond one resident’s reach. Advent’s residential property management services include coordinating maintenance and repair providers. Ask which preparations are required, who will arrange access, and how to report activity after treatment.
Our recommended handoff is simple: keep the pest observation, any related building repair, and the follow-up instruction in the same conversation. Otherwise, a treatment visit and a separate leak repair can become disconnected tasks.
Common resident questions
Should I wait until I see more pests? Report the initial concern with the details you have. Management or the provider can decide what additional information is useful.
Does finding pests mean I am responsible for the bill? The sighting alone does not establish responsibility. Cause, property conditions, the lease, and applicable rules need to be considered.
Can I spray before the scheduled visit? Ask the provider first. Uncoordinated treatments can complicate the plan, and all product-label precautions still apply.
For a recurring problem, contact Advent about coordinating the next step. Include the existing request number, the location, and what has changed since the last report.
