In a strata corporation, managing pest control is a shared responsibility. The dividing line generally comes down to where the pest infestation starts and what caused it.

Here is a breakdown of who is responsible for what under standard strata bylaws and the Strata Property Act.

The Strata Corporation’s Responsibility

The strata corporation is responsible for managing and maintaining common property and limited common property, as well as the overall integrity of the building’s structure.

• Common Areas: The strata must pay for pest control in all common areas, including hallways, lobbies, parkades, gardens, amenity rooms, and standard engineering spaces.
• Building Exterior and Structure: If pests (like rodents, birds, or carpenter ants) are entering through the building’s exterior envelope, roof, or foundation, the strata is responsible for sealing those entry points and treating the infestation.
• Multi-Unit Infestations: If pests (particularly bedbugs or cockroaches) travel between units or originate from a common area, the strata usually takes charge of a coordinated, building-wide treatment plan to ensure eradication.
• Investigative Inspections: The strata has the right—and often the duty—to inspect individual strata lots if there is a reasonable belief that a pest issue in one unit could spread and threaten the rest of the building.

The Owner’s Responsibility

Individual owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their strata lot (the interior of their unit) and must use their property in a way that does not cause a nuisance or hazard to others.

• Interior of the Unit: If a pest issue is localized entirely within a unit and is not caused by a structural defect in the common property, the owner is responsible for the cost of eradication.
• Hygiene and Prevention: Owners must maintain their units in a clean and sanitary condition. If an infestation (such as fruit flies, mice, or cockroaches) is caused by poor housekeeping, improper food storage, or hoarding, the owner is fully responsible.
• Reporting: Owners have a duty to immediately report any signs of pests to the strata management. Delaying a report can allow pests to spread, potentially making the owner liable for the cost of treating neighboring units.
• Cooperation with Treatment: If the strata schedules a building-wide treatment, the owner must comply by preparing their unit (e.g., moving furniture, emptying cabinets) and allowing entry to pest control professionals. Failure to cooperate can result in fines and chargebacks for delayed service fees.

The “Grey Area” and Cost Chargebacks

Important Note on Liability: Even if the strata pays for a pest control contractor to treat an individual unit to ensure the building is protected, the strata council may charge the cost back to the individual owner if it can be proven that the owner’s negligence, actions, or poor hygiene caused the infestation.

Always check your specific strata’s registered bylaws, as some corporations have amended bylaws that explicitly outline specific procedures and cost-allocations for pest control (especially regarding bedbugs).