By Jorge Atempa, Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) · Updated Oct 22, 2026
Unit Turnover Pest Checklist for California Rentals
Why is unit turnover the best time to prevent pests?
The unit is empty and every cabinet and closet is open, so problems are easy to find and fix. The U.S. EPA notes turnover is a great opportunity to clean up units, and UC IPM recommends checking each apartment at least once a year.
Can a California landlord rent a unit with bed bugs?
No. A landlord may not show or rent a vacant unit with a current bed bug infestation (Civil Code §1954.602), and must give new tenants written bed bug information before move-in (§1954.603).
The checklist
| Turnover step | Notes |
|---|---|
| ☐ Check bed bug status before showing the unit | California landlords may not show or rent a vacant unit with a current bed bug infestation (Civil Code §1954.602). |
| ☐ Inspect kitchen and bath: under sinks, behind appliances, cabinet corners | Look for cockroach droppings (dark specks), egg cases, and shed skins (UC IPM, Cockroaches). |
| ☐ Check for rodent signs in cabinets, the water heater closet, attic access, and garage | Droppings and gnaw marks. |
| ☐ Seal gaps and holes larger than 1/4 inch around pipes, wires, and vents | Use steel wool, wire screen, sheet metal, or concrete. Rats chew through plastic, foam, wood, and caulk (UC IPM, Rats). |
| ☐ Fix leaks: faucets, drains, toilets, irrigation near the unit | Water draws ants and cockroaches (UC IPM, Ants; UC IPM, Cockroaches). |
| ☐ Check door sweeps, weatherstripping, and window screens | Keeps out cockroaches, scorpions, and rodents (UC IPM, Scorpions). |
| ☐ Look for flea activity if the last tenant had pets | Vacuum carpets thoroughly, especially where pets slept (UC IPM, Fleas). |
| ☐ Check wood for termite signs: pellets, kickout holes, mud tubes | Refer anything suspicious to a licensed termite inspector. |
| ☐ Place sticky monitoring traps in kitchen and bath | Sticky traps are the best way to detect and monitor cockroaches (UC IPM, Cockroaches). |
| ☐ Give the new tenant the required bed bug information | Landlords must give new tenants a written bed bug disclosure before move-in (Civil Code §1954.603). |
| ☐ Record findings in the pest logbook | Include a clutter rating where relevant (UC IPM, Pest Monitoring and Recordkeeping). |
Suggested: give every new resident a one-page "Help us keep pests out" sheet: report pests early, store food in sealed containers, take out trash often, and tell management about leaks right away.
The Property Manager's Pest Prevention Playbook: 16 pages with a seasonal calendar, turnover checklist, pest-by-pest prevention, California rules, and when to call a pro. Cited to UC IPM, U.S. EPA, and CDPR. $29.
Get the playbookSources: U.S. EPA, Pest Control: Resources for Housing Managers; UC IPM pages on cockroaches, rats, ants, scorpions, fleas, and pest monitoring; California Civil Code §§1954.602–1954.603.