Bed Bugs Treatment and Extermination in a Rental

You have discovered bed bugs in your rental dwelling. Now, the question becomes: who must pay for the bed bug treatment? This is best answered by defining some important terms.

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small bugs that get into beds and linens, and often bite, leaving raised welts. Bed bugs can lay up to 5 eggs a day for weeks, and these larvae mature in a few weeks, thus exponentially compounding the bed bug infestation. Bed bugs are very hard to kill and some experts report that bed bugs are reaching near epidemic levels in certain cities and areas in the United States.

How do bed bugs get into a rental dwelling?

Unlike rodents and other pests that are attracted primarily to garbage and food particles, bed bugs can enter into a rental dwelling in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:

• Through floor boards, electrical conduits, and small cracks
• On clothing, backpacks, contaminated luggage, and even on people who have come in contact with them

Bed bugs aren’t attracted to dirt and they can infest even a clean home, due to the fact that they are hard to see and you may have them and not even know it. They are attracted by the scent of humans and they ingest only human blood, not other animals or food.

Who is at fault in the case of a bed bug infestation?

Because bed bugs can enter a home unnoticed, it is very difficult to determine who is truly “responsible” for a unit becoming infested. In some cases, the bed bugs get in on a tenant’s clothes, or in baggage arriving from another location. A tenant can pick up a bed bug even from sitting on an upholstered seat on public transportation or in a cafe, and never notice it. Bed bugs can also come in from other apartments in a multi-unit dwelling, and that’s where a landlord’s responsibility comes into play.

Who pays for bed bug treatments?

The laws governing financial responsibility for extermination of bed bugs vary from state to state, but many states are placing the responsibility for bed bug treatments squarely on the shoulders of landlords.

Because landlords are in a position to most effectively treat all areas in a rental dwelling, including common spaces, they are expected to carry the cost of treating the problem. This is especially relevant because the bugs can migrate, so treating one unit may not be enough – the whole building may have to be treated in order to eradicate the pests.

Furthermore, courts are finding more and more that bed bugs are a serious problem affecting the well-being of tenants, so much so that landlords have a responsibility to administer bed bug treatments as a part of their obligation to keep their properties safe for tenants.

What is bed bug treatment?

Bed bug treatment is a complex, expensive process that involves the cooperation of all tenants in all rental units. A specific exterminator will be required, and follow-up inspections are a must. To be most effective, bed bug treatment must commence immediately after the first sighting of bed bugs, so if you are having a problem, report it to your landlord immediately.

How a Landlord Tenant Attorney Can Help

Bed bugs are hard to get rid of and the longer you wait, the worse the problem will become. If you have bed bugs in your rental apartment, you need to get your landlord to address the problem immediately.

If the landlord refuses to act, or tries to get you to shoulder the costs of a bed bugs treatment, you should contact a local landlord tenant attorney right away to see what your options are.

Case Studies: Bed Bugs Treatment and Extermination in a Rental

Case Study 1: The Tenant’s Responsibility

Sarah, a tenant in an apartment complex, discovered a bed bug infestation in her unit. She immediately reported the issue to her landlord, who insisted that she was responsible for covering the cost of bed bug treatment. Sarah sought legal advice and consulted a landlord-tenant attorney to understand her rights and obligations in this situation.

Case Study 2: Landlord’s Responsibility

John, a tenant in a rental property, noticed signs of bed bugs in his apartment. He reported the infestation to his landlord, who acknowledged the issue but delayed taking any action to address it. Frustrated with the landlord’s inaction, John consulted a local landlord-tenant attorney to explore his legal options and hold the landlord accountable for resolving the bed bug problem.

Case Study 3: Shared Responsibility

In a multi-unit building, several tenants experienced bed bug infestations simultaneously. It became evident that the infestation had spread from one unit to others. The tenants collectively approached the landlord, demanding immediate and comprehensive bed bug treatment for the entire building. When the landlord refused to take responsibility for the cost, the tenants engaged the services of a landlord-tenant attorney to protect their rights and advocate for a resolution.