hen I first heard about the proposed New York City regulations concerning cleanliness, allergens, and pest control at self-storage facilities, I understood why operators might be frustrated. Nobody likes being told how to run their business, particularly when new requirements mean additional time, documentation, and expense.

But I also understand why cleanliness matters. I’ve managed properties where pest problems became serious, and one thing I’ve learned is that they can start quickly and be difficult to stop. The challenge in self-storage is right there in the name: self. Customers bring their belongings into the facility, and we don’t know where they’ve been or what may have hitched a ride.

Boxes that had been sitting in garages or sheds could be home to roaches, while furniture may contain crumbs that attract mice. Tenants have also been known to store food in their units, and rodents and insects don’t care whether that’s against the rules.

At one property I managed in the San Francisco Bay Area, we developed a significant rat problem. One tenant claimed rats had ruined her couch. When I finally saw it being removed, there was hardly a couch left. The rats had sharpened their teeth on the wood and taken most of the stuffing out of it to make nests.

Instead of hiding the problem, we notified every customer, told them to inspect their belongings, reminded them not to store food, and explained what pest control action we’d be taking. We ultimately became much more aggressive about treating the property, because when a pest problem becomes severe, treating only the common areas may not solve it. Pests simply move elsewhere; if a rat’s skull can fit through an opening, so can its whole body.

That experience changed the way I approach pest control. Today, I prefer having professionals treat properties on a set schedule rather than managers handling the chemicals themselves and only doing it when they notice a problem. Normally, monthly professional service may be sufficient. When there is an active infestation, however, weekly treatment may be necessary until it is under control.

Regular inspections matter too. I once accompanied a prospective customer to a vacant unit and opened the door to discover so many dead crickets that I could barely see the concrete. The extermination had obviously worked, but nobody had checked the unit afterward. Needless to say, that prospect didn’t rent. That’s a preventable mistake. Before showing a vacant unit, someone should already know that it is clean and ready to rent.

Operators also need to educate tenants. With rentals increasingly completed electronically, customers may sign agreements without reading rules that managers once explained in person. Something as simple as a checklist can remind tenants not to store food, to inspect boxes and belongings before moving them in, and to report signs of pests immediately.

Additional regulations create costs, but there is another cost to consider: lost customers due to damaged belongings and negative reviews. Sometimes spending the money and doing the work before there’s a problem—or before a problem gets bigger—is simply good business.