Pilot Rat Abatement Program for Residential Properties (Pilot Program)

The Town of Tecumseh’s (Town) Pilot Rat Abatement Program for Residential Properties (Pilot Program) proposes to offer a rebate, up to 50% of $360, to residential property owners to assist with the cost of utilizing a licensed pest control company to assist with removing rats from outside their residential property. Any additional costs of the services performed or any ongoing rat control services beyond the rebate amount is the sole responsibility of the property owner.

In accordance with the Town’s Purchasing Policy No. 17, the Town is following an Informal Request for Proposal process to contract an extermination company for rodent abatement at a fixed rate per property.

The Town is proposing the following rat abatement process, but is seeking the expert opinion of the Pest Control Company for recommended abatement measures. 

Process to Obtain Rebate

1. The appointed pest control company will submit a report to the Town periodically, outlining the work/measures undertaken and the results of their efforts at each respective property, together with the fees charged to, and collected from, the property owner.
2. The property owner is responsible for remitting evidence to the Town detailing that the pest control company has been paid in full.
3. Subject to identifying rat burrows and/or evidence of rat activity, the pest control technician would lay regulated bait station blocks in strategic locations on the property, conduct follow-up inspections and remove the bait stations at the end of the contract timeframe. 
4. It would be expected that the technician would advise the homeowner, as well as the Town, on rat control prevention based on their observations of the property such as removal of food sources, standing water, clutter that provides a living space for the rats, etc. The property owner would need to ensure all preventative measures are undertaken in order to participate in the Pilot Program.  
5. To initiate rebate assistance, the property owner must first complete and submit electronically, on the Town’s website, a Residential Rat Control Rebate Program Intake Form identifying the location of rat sightings on the property and suspected origin of the rat(s). Following which, the appointed licensed pest control company would attend the property to inspect where the rats are originating from and other notable attributing concerns. Should the pest control technician find property standards concerns attributing to rats, By-Law Enforcement will be apprised for appropriate action(s).
6. The Town will pay the applicable rebate directly to the property owner following receipt of required reporting from both the property owner and pest control company.

The Town’s Pilot Program is for the balance of 2022, or until the funding allocation is exhausted, whichever comes first. Funding in the amount of $10,000 in property owner rebates has been approved in the Town’s 2022 annual operating budget. Only one rebate up to 50% of $360 per property will be accepted in the 2022 calendar year.

Terms and Conditions:

In consideration of receiving the rebate under this Residential Rat Control Rebate Program (Program), the undersigned Applicant acknowledges and agrees:

1. That for the purpose of this rebate, the Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh’s appointed licensed pest control contractor services must be engaged in order to be eligible for rebate;
2. That for the purposes of this rebate, the property owners authorize the appointed licensed Ontario exterminator with a valid Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MOECP) licence authorizing pesticide use according to the terms and conditions of the licence;
3. That the Town of Tecumseh does not guarantee or warrant the pest control products or services used, the performance, freedom from defects, quality of workmanship or suitability of the products thereof for any purpose, or the suitability of the premises for application. Further, the Applicant acknowledges and agrees to assume any and all additional costs of the services performed or any ongoing rat control services beyond the rebate amount;
4. That the rebate is not applicable to pest control services rendered to the interior of the buildings and is applicable to the exterior of the buildings only;
5. To be eligible for a rebate, you must first complete the Residential Rat Control Rebate Intake Form which will be reviewed by the Town of Tecumseh prior to having the exterior of your residential property inspected by the appointed pest control company;
6. That there are no outstanding Property Standards order(s) or waste issues against the applicant property and that the Applicant will address any property standards matters identified during the inspection process in order to be eligible for a rebate;
7. To indemnify, save and hold harmless the Town of Tecumseh, and its agents, officials, officers, councillors and employees (collectively, the agents) against all liability, loss, costs, damages, and expenses, causes of action, actions, claims, demands, lawsuits and other proceedings, by whomever made, sustained, brought or prosecuted, including by third parties, involving bodily injury, death, personal injury, and property damage, in any way based upon, occasioned by or attributable to the Applicant’s participation in this Program, including any negligence on the part of the Town of Tecumseh, or its agents;
8. To refund such rebate to the Town of Tecumseh on request, if this application contains any misstatement or misrepresentation on such Applicant’s behalf, or if the Applicant breaches any of these terms or conditions;
9. That all instructions and program requirements found in this application form must be adhered to by the applicant in order to qualify for the rebate.

Personal Information contained on this form is collected pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act/Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for the purpose of responding to your request. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Co-ordinator at the institution where the request is made.