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Delaware Code Title 31. Welfare § 4121. Extermination

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Owner's responsibility. -- The owner of any structure shall be responsible for extermination of insects, rats, vermin or other pests within the structure prior to renting, leasing or selling the structure.

(b) Tenant-occupant’s responsibility. -- The tenant-occupant of any structure shall be responsible for the continued rat proof condition of the structure, and if the tenant occupant fails to maintain the rat-proof condition, the cost of extermination shall be the responsibility of the tenant-occupant.

(c) Single unit occupant's responsibility. -- The occupant of a structure containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rats or other pests in the structure or on the premises, except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of this section.

(d) Responsibility for common areas in multiple unit structures. -- Every owner, agent or operator of 2 or more dwelling units or multiple occupancies, or rooming houses, shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rats or other pests in the public or shared areas of the structure and premises.

(e) Bed bug remediation. --

(1) If the tenant notifies the owner that the tenant found or reasonably suspects a bed bug infestation in a dwelling unit within 60 days after the dwelling unit was occupied or within 30 days of discovery of a bed bug infestation in an adjoining unit in the building, the owner shall be responsible for the costs of investigating and remediating the infestation.

(2) If the tenant notifies the owner of a bed bug infestation more than 60 days after the dwelling unit was occupied and not within 30 days of a discovery of a bed bug infestation in an adjoining unit within the building, the landlord shall be responsible for investigating and remediating the bed bug infestation, provided that the tenant shall share in the responsibility for the reasonable costs for remediating the infestation in the tenant's unit.

(3) The tenant shall not be responsible to share in costs with properties managed by a state or local government housing authority.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Delaware Code Title 31. Welfare § 4121. Extermination - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-31-welfare/de-code-sect-31-4121/

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