Pest Management Plans for Strata & Property Managers

Common strata pest problems

• Cockroaches — spread between units through shared plumbing and wall cavities
• Bed bugs — introduced by tenants via travel; spread between adjacent units
• Rodents — travel between units via wall cavities, subfloors and roof voids
• Termites — can affect the entire building structure, not just one unit
• Ants — trail between units through shared wall spaces
• Birds and possums — nest in shared roof voids and common areas

Building a strata pest management plan

1. 1Schedule regular inspections of common areas — foyers, hallways, garbage rooms, car parks, plant rooms and external areas
2. 2Coordinate termite inspections and management for the building structure — this is a strata responsibility, not an individual owner's
3. 3Establish a response protocol for tenant pest reports — including who is responsible (owner, tenant or strata) for different pest types
4. 4Implement preventative treatments in high-risk common areas — garbage rooms, drainage areas, plant rooms
5. 5Maintain documentation for all pest control activities — important for compliance and dispute resolution
6. 6Communicate with tenants about pest prevention — clean kitchens, reporting sightings promptly, not introducing pests via second-hand furniture
7. 7Address building-wide issues — sealing gaps, repairing screens, maintaining garbage area hygiene

Who is responsible for what?

In NSW strata schemes, pest control responsibility is generally divided: strata is responsible for common property and the building structure (including termite management of the structure); lot owners are responsible for pests within their unit (cockroaches, ants, bed bugs); tenants may be responsible for pest control at the end of a lease under some tenancy agreements. However, when pests originate from or travel through common property, strata responsibility may extend. Clear documentation and a defined response protocol prevent disputes.