If I live in an apatment and discovered that it is infested with bed bugs, who is responsible to pay for extermination – me or the landlord?
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If I live in an apatment and discovered that it is infested with bed bugs, who is responsible to pay for extermination – me or the landlord?
Asked on January 25, 2013 under Real Estate Law, Kansas
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
The laws vary from state-to-state regarding this issue. However, generally speaking, the landlord must pay for the extermination of bedbugs. It is an infestation much the same cockroaches and the like. This all has to do with what is called an "implied warranty of habitability." This a term implied in residential leases that guarantees that the premises must be in a safe and sanitary (i.e. "habitable") condition; this includes pest or bug infestations.
At this point, you should consult with an attorney that specializes in landlord-tenant matters or speak with a tenant's rights group in your area.
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