Termite Law in Alabama – Fight the Bugs and Win

Allen Ritchie • August 9, 2024

You fight the bugs, and we will fight the bug company. That is how it works in Alabama. You try to save your house, and we try to get you the money before the bugs eat it to the ground.

Now, this does not mean that if the bug company just holds out, you will end up with sawdust. The state of Alabama has some laws to help you move things along and win.

If you have a termite treatment agreement, what that contract says is paramount to getting money out of the bug company. Some contracts provide for repairs, and others just re-treatment (which basically means adding some chemicals and wishing you luck). We can help you figure out which you have.

Here are 3 things the state does require:

  • Annual inspections

Termite companies that have a contract with a property owner must inspect the property annually and report to the owner if there is a re-infestation of termites. My strong advice is to be present during these inspections so you can ask questions and see what the company is doing or not doing.

  • Termite treatments

There are specific requirements that a treatment specialist must discuss with you. For example, wooden parts of a building, like steps, support piers, and trellises, must be placed on a concrete or other termite-impervious base at least four inches above the ground. If you don’t agree to remove wood-to-ground contact, the wood and soil at that point can and should be treated. Also, the bug company must check termite baits, baiting systems, and monitoring systems no later than 90 days after installation.

  • Follow the contract

If the termite protection company does not follow the contract, the state of Alabama has very specific ways to deal with them. This is a fraud, and our state takes that very seriously.

Despite your having termite protection insurance, some bug companies in our state do not want to pay. It has been so bad the Alabama Attorney General got involved. Come sit down with me for free, and I will explain it all.

If you discover termites or are injured in a traffic accident, on-the-job injury, nursing home neglect incident, slip-and-fall, boating accident, or other personal injury, you can talk to us at the law firm of Steele Ritchie for free. We genuinely want to help. We are local attorneys with decades of experience helping people, especially in the southwest Mobile area. Give us a call at (251) 666-1212.

Allen Ritchie

Alabama Personal Injury Lawyer

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