When Should a Tenant Report a Pest Problem to AHS—and Where Should They Report It?
Table of Contents
Start by Reporting the Problem to Your Landlord
If you are a tenant in Alberta and discover cockroaches, mice, bed bugs, or another significant pest problem, the first step is generally to report the problem to your landlord or property manager as soon as possible. Alberta Health Services states that landlords must keep rental housing safe and in good repair, while tenants are expected to report problems promptly and allow access for repairs or pest control when proper notice is provided.
Give the Landlord an Opportunity to Correct the Problem
After reporting the infestation, give the landlord reasonable opportunity to arrange appropriate pest control and correct conditions contributing to the problem. Keep copies of emails, text messages, work orders, pest-control reports, photographs, and other documentation showing when you reported the issue and what response you received.
This documentation can be useful if the problem continues and you need to demonstrate that you previously notified the landlord.
When Should a Tenant Contact AHS?
If you have reported a significant housing or pest problem to your landlord and the problem has not been corrected, Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health can be contacted for assistance. AHS specifically states that tenants can contact Environmental Public Health when reported rental-housing problems have not been fixed.
AHS Environmental Public Health inspects rental housing and accommodations to determine whether they meet minimum health standards.
For example, recurring cockroach or rodent infestations, serious sanitation concerns, conditions allowing pests to enter or harbour, or other significant housing conditions may warrant contacting Environmental Public Health.
Where Does a Tenant Report the Problem?
The appropriate place is Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health (EPH).
AHS provides an online Environmental Public Health complaint/request form for concerns involving rental properties and public-health or safety issues.
AHS Environmental Public Health – Contact / Complaint Form
AHS also lists 1-833-476-4743 as the contact number for Environmental Public Health/Safe Healthy Environments.
What Information Should the Tenant Provide?
When submitting a complaint, provide as much factual information as possible. AHS indicates that it may need information such as the tenant’s name, phone number, address, landlord’s name and phone number, and a description of the problem.
It is helpful to include:
- The complete rental-property address
- Type of pest observed
- How long the problem has existed
- Where pests are being found
- Approximate frequency of sightings
- Whether other units are affected, if known
- When the landlord was notified
- What action the landlord or property manager took
- Whether professional pest control was arranged
- Whether the infestation continues
- Photographs or other supporting documentation, when appropriate
Can AHS Inspect the Rental Property?
Yes. AHS states that a public health inspector may inspect the rental housing and speak with the landlord about problems identified during the inspection.
AHS Environmental Public Health enforces Alberta’s Public Health Act, including the Housing Regulation and Minimum Housing and Health Standards.
Recent AHS enforcement records also demonstrate that serious pest infestations can form part of housing-health enforcement. For example, an AHS order identified evidence of a mouse infestation and cited the requirement that housing premises be free of insect and rodent infestations.
Will AHS Tell the Landlord Who Made the Complaint?
According to AHS’s tenant guidance, public health inspectors will not say that you were the person who contacted them or tell anyone your name.
Tenants should nevertheless provide accurate information and describe the conditions objectively rather than exaggerating the situation.
What If the Problem Is a Landlord-Tenant Dispute Rather Than a Health Issue?
AHS Environmental Public Health deals with public-health and housing-standard concerns. It is not the general dispute-resolution body for every disagreement between a landlord and tenant.
If the issue is primarily about tenancy rights, rent, compensation, ending a tenancy, or another Residential Tenancies Act dispute, a tenant may need to use Alberta’s landlord-tenant dispute processes separately.
In other words:
Pest or housing-health concern → AHS Environmental Public Health
Tenancy dispute or contractual issue → Alberta landlord-tenant dispute resources
These processes can sometimes overlap, depending on the circumstances.
Don’t Wait Until the Infestation Becomes Severe
Tenants should not simply accept recurring pest activity as a normal part of apartment living. Alberta’s health guidance specifically says that rental housing should be safe and healthy and that landlords must keep the home safe and in good repair.
If a pest problem is reported and appropriate action is not taken, documenting the situation and contacting AHS Environmental Public Health can be an appropriate next step.
The Bottom Line
If you are an Alberta tenant dealing with persistent cockroaches, mice, bed bugs, or other significant pest-related housing concerns, start by notifying your landlord or property manager and keep a record of your communications.
If the problem is not corrected, you can contact Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health and request assistance with a rental-housing health concern. AHS can assess whether the conditions meet applicable minimum health standards and determine what action may be appropriate.
For Calgary and throughout Alberta, the current AHS Environmental Public Health contact number is 1-833-476-4743, and complaints or service requests can also be submitted online.
Submit an AHS Environmental Public Health Complaint or Service Request
Frequently Asked Questions: When Should a Tenant Report a Pest Problem to AHS?
1. When should a tenant report a pest problem to AHS?
A tenant should generally first notify the landlord or property manager about the pest problem. If the issue is not corrected after being reported, the tenant can contact Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health for assistance with a rental-housing health concern.
2. Should I contact my landlord before contacting AHS?
Yes. Tenants should normally give the landlord or property manager an opportunity to investigate and correct the problem. Keep records of when you reported the issue and what action was taken.
3. What types of pest problems can a tenant report?
Significant or persistent pest problems such as cockroaches, mice, bed bugs, or other conditions that may affect the health or sanitary condition of a rental property may be appropriate to report to Environmental Public Health.
4. Where do I report a rental-housing pest complaint in Alberta?
Tenants can contact Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health (EPH) for applicable rental-housing health concerns.
AHS provides an online complaint and service-request form through its Environmental Public Health system.
5. What is the AHS Environmental Public Health phone number?
AHS lists 1-833-476-4743 as a contact number for Environmental Public Health/Safe Healthy Environments.
6. What information should I provide to AHS?
Provide factual information about the property and the problem, including the rental address, type of pest, locations where pests have been found, how long the problem has existed, and what actions the landlord or property manager has taken.
7. Should I take photographs of the pest problem?
Photographs can be useful for documenting the conditions you are reporting. Keep photographs, emails, text messages, work orders, and pest-control reports when available.
8. Can AHS inspect a rental property?
Yes. Environmental Public Health may inspect a rental property when a health or housing-standard concern is reported. The inspector may discuss identified concerns with the landlord or property manager.
9. Will AHS tell my landlord that I made the complaint?
AHS tenant guidance states that public health inspectors will not tell the landlord that you were the person who contacted them or provide your name as the complainant.
10. What happens after I report a pest problem to AHS?
AHS may review the complaint and determine whether an Environmental Public Health inspection or other action is appropriate. The response depends on the circumstances and the nature of the reported conditions.
11. Does AHS handle landlord-tenant disputes?
Not every landlord-tenant disagreement falls under Environmental Public Health. AHS deals with applicable public-health and housing-standard concerns. Issues involving tenancy agreements, rent, compensation, or other tenancy disputes may require a separate landlord-tenant dispute process.
12. Can a tenant report a problem if the landlord already hired a pest control company?
Yes. Having a pest control company attend the property does not necessarily mean the underlying problem has been resolved. If significant pest activity continues or housing conditions remain a concern, the tenant can document the situation and seek appropriate assistance.
13. What if my landlord says that seeing one cockroach is normal?
An isolated pest sighting does not automatically establish a health-standard violation. However, recurring or significant pest activity should be reported to the landlord so the situation can be investigated and addressed.
14. What if the landlord refuses to arrange pest control?
Document the refusal and your previous communications. If the situation involves a significant rental-housing health concern that has not been corrected, you can contact Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health for guidance or to make a complaint.
15. Should tenants wait until there are many pests before reporting the problem?
No. Tenants should report pest concerns promptly rather than allowing an infestation to become severe. Early reporting can give the landlord an opportunity to investigate and correct contributing conditions.
16. What should I ask my landlord after reporting a pest problem?
Ask what steps will be taken, whether a professional pest inspection will be arranged, when the inspection or treatment will occur, and whether any building or sanitation issues identified by the technician will be corrected.
17. Why is documentation important?
Documentation can establish when the problem was reported, what the landlord or property manager did in response, and whether the problem continued. It can also help AHS understand the history of the concern.
18. Can AHS require corrective action?
Depending on the circumstances and applicable health standards, Environmental Public Health may identify deficiencies and take appropriate enforcement or follow-up action. The specific response depends on the findings of the investigation.
19. What is the difference between reporting to AHS and making a tenancy complaint?
AHS is appropriate for applicable public-health and housing-standard concerns, while tenancy dispute processes address matters such as contractual disagreements, rent, compensation, or other rights under Alberta tenancy legislation.
20. What is the best first step if I discover cockroaches or mice in my rental?
Report the problem to your landlord or property manager promptly, document the response, and allow reasonable opportunity for corrective action. If the significant problem remains unresolved, consider contacting Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health.
