What Should I Do If I Have Bed Bugs in My Apartment?
If you are renting an apartment and you have noticed a noticeable infestation of bed bugs, you should take action immediately. The first step is to write a letter to your landlord and demand that they hire a licensed exterminator to get rid of the bugs. You can also call your local Board of Health and ask them to inspect the apartment. They will document the infestation and cite your landlord if they have not remedied the problem. In addition, you can refuse to pay rent until the infestation is completely eliminated.
The Landlord-Tenant Act requires landlords to ensure that their units are free from bed bugs before a tenant moves in. However, this law does not apply to single-family dwellings. If the infestation is caused by the tenant, he or she will be liable for the cost of the pest control. In multi-unit buildings, it can be difficult to find out who introduced the bed bugs. Sometimes, tenants may have brought the bugs home with them from another apartment or furniture. In this case, the landlord will have to pay for the extermination and may even have to pay for the relocation of the tenant.
If you suspect that your rental apartment is infested with bed bugs, you should contact your landlord as soon as possible. The landlord will likely hire a professional exterminator to get rid of the bedbug infestation in the apartment. This professional should be able to identify the main hiding places of the bugs, as well as the extent of the infestation. In addition, he or she should give you adequate notice of their arrival and work with you to set up an access plan. Once the extermination is complete, you and your landlord should follow the landlord’s instructions.