# Who pays for pest extermination in a Florida rental? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Florida Statute 83.51(2)(a) requires landlords of units other than single-family homes or duplexes to provide extermination, unless agreed otherwise in writing.

**Who pays:** landlord

In Florida, landlords of units other than single-family homes or duplexes must make reasonable provisions for extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

**Boundary:** Under Florida Statutes 83.51(2)(a), unless otherwise agreed in writing, the landlord of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex must make reasonable provisions for the extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs. If the tenant must vacate for the extermination, the landlord is not liable for damages but must abate the rent.

**Exceptions:** The duty applies unless otherwise agreed in writing.; The duty in subsection (2)(a) is for a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex.

## Sources
- [Florida Statutes 83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0083/Sections/0083.51.html) — "Unless otherwise agreed in writing, in addition to the requirements of subsection (1), the landlord of a dwelling unit other than a single-family home or duplex shall, at all times during the tenancy, make reasonable provisions for: ... The extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bedbugs." (accessed 2026-10-21)
- [Florida Statutes 83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0083/Sections/0083.51.html) — "If the tenant must vacate the premises for such extermination, the landlord is not liable for damages but must abate the rent." (accessed 2026-10-21)

_Last verified 2026-10-21. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/florida-landlord-pest-extermination-duty/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._