Who's responsbility for termite damage?

[TMNT]

Who's responsbility is it in this case,

Recently renovated a property, no termite damage at the time,

over the past couple of months, they decide to sillyly bring logs into the house and now there is clear termite damage in the walls in that area

 

[Ed Barton]

In practical senses I would say the LL's. If you can prove the tenant was negligent then probably the tenant (good luck with that!).

Can you prove that the tenant bringing in logs was the cause of the damage? I doubt it. Why were they bringing in logs? - open fire? - probably diminishes the tenants responsibility further.

 

[Scott No Mates]

You need to relocate the queen to get a colony to form.

 

[handyandy]

You need to relocate the queen to get a colony to form.

And this is so unlikely to be the case simply by moving a log that is a suitable size for an inside fireplace.

By chopping the wood you disturb the termites and they would be long gone before you picked the log up again to bring inside.

Who's responsbility is it in this case,

Recently renovated a property, no termite damage at the time,

Just because you didn't find the termite at the time of the reno does not mean that they weren't present at the time. I have seen pieces of 4x2 that looked perfect from the outside but were riddled with termites.

over the past couple of months, they decide to sillyly bring logs into the house and now there is clear termite damage in the walls in that area

Maybe you are just being a 'silyly' landlord by imagining the you are going to pin a termite invasion on a tenant.

Cheers

 

[Terry_w]

2 questions:

who is they?

Why does someone have to be responsible?

 

[ozsupra]

Who is responsible? - Well the termites, silly.

 

[jweg]

termites

Their tracks/tunnells shoudl be easy enough to follow to see where they accessed the house.

My bet will be nice built-up garden beds or old trees around the perimeter of the home.

Answer as to who is responsible -- the owner. I've never heard of a build warranty or a pest inspection report being successfully claimed against.

Anyone else?

 

[Aaron_C]

Looks like you are responsible.

 

[M.Investigator]

Quite difficult to prove if tenants fault. Landlord is saying that the property has been renovated and no sign of termite damage. But since nobody can tell perhaps you can call pest control specialists for their initial findings then you can decide what to do.

 

[vaughan]

Get some expert opinion on how long the termites have been active. If it's been years then obviously the fire wood was not a contributing factor and the damage already existed.

 

[Terry_w]

Get some expert opinion on how long the termites have been active. If it's been years then obviously the fire wood was not a contributing factor and the damage already existed.

I can't see any point. If the expert opinion says the termites are recent, then what? How could you prove the tenants brought them in - other than by their own admissions. And even if they did bring in wood with termites would they be liable for any damage?