Apartment and Multi-Unit Rodent Control in El Paso

Apartment and Multi-Unit Rodent Control in El Paso: the short version

In an apartment building, rodents treat the walls, pipe chases and attic as one big space. Treating one unit pushes them into the next. Multi-unit rodent control looks at the whole building: every unit with activity, the shared spaces, the trash area and the outside walls.

This page is written for property managers and owners, with notes for tenants. If you rent and have rats or mice, our tenant and landlord guide explains the Texas repair rules and the El Paso code that applies.

What a thorough job includes

A building plan should cover more than the unit that called.

• Inspection of the reporting unit and the units on either side, above and below
• Checks of shared spaces: laundry rooms, utility closets, pipe chases and attics
• Dumpster and trash enclosure review, with lids, pads and pickup frequency
• Traps or stations in each affected unit and locked stations outside
• Sealing at pipe penetrations between units and at the building's outer walls
• Notices and prep sheets for tenants, and a log of every visit

Why it is harder in El Paso

El Paso has a lot of older duplexes and small apartment buildings in central neighborhoods and the Lower Valley, plus large complexes on the East Side and Westside. Older buildings have decades of pipe and wiring work that left gaps. Newer complexes often border open desert lots.

The model International Property Maintenance Code, which El Paso adopts in Chapter 18.50 of its city code, puts pest elimination in shared areas and exterior property on the owner of a building with two or more units. Tenants are generally responsible for keeping their own unit free of pests unless the problem comes from building defects. Read the guide for the details and the Texas repair statute.

Tenants in El Paso can file complaints through 311. A good plan keeps the building ahead of that.

What it costs

Building-wide plans are priced by the number of units, the shared spaces and the sealing needed. Many providers offer monthly or quarterly service for apartment buildings. Ask for unit counts, shared areas and sealing to be listed separately so you can compare quotes. National cost guides list quarterly service from about $500 for a home, so expect multi-unit pricing to reflect the size of the building.

A tenant's checklist

If you rent and see signs of rodents, take these steps.

• Take dated photos of droppings, gnawing or damage.
• Tell your landlord in writing, and keep a copy.
• Store food in sealed containers and take trash out often.
• Do not sweep up droppings. Clean them the CDC way, wet and with gloves.
• Let the provider in when notified, and clear the spaces they ask you to clear.
• If nothing happens, see our tenant guide for the Texas repair rules.

Common building trouble spots

In multi-unit buildings, rodents often travel through the plumbing chase that runs between kitchens and bathrooms stacked above each other, through gaps around the main water and gas lines in utility closets, and along the space above dropped ceilings in hallways. Trash rooms and dumpster enclosures are the other hot spot. A provider should check all of these, not only the unit that reported the problem.