Who Pays For Bed Bugs?
WouterBedbug infestations are a nightmare for landlords and tenants. The insects can quickly multiply and infest an apartment building if there is not a proper pest control program. If tenants notice the presence of bedbugs, they can notify their landlord. Typically, landlords must pay a few hundred dollars for the treatment.
If tenants are able to show that bedbugs were present at the time the tenant moved in, they can make the landlord responsible for paying for the infestation. This is known as the “implied warranty of habitability.” A tenant can provide proof by obtaining a report from a pest control operative and photos of the infestation. Unfortunately, proof is not always easy to obtain. Fortunately, most landlord-tenant disputes can be settled through an agreement between the landlord and tenant.
Depending on the state and property-owner laws, bedbugs may be the responsibility of the landlord or the renter. Most renters’ insurance policies will not cover bed bug extermination costs. Regardless of whether a renter’s insurance company covers bedbug damage, the cost of eliminating bedbugs is high.
In multi-unit buildings, it can be difficult to determine who pays for bedbug extermination. It is important to remember that landlords are required to provide habitable housing. In some cases, the tenant may have brought the bed bugs in with them from a foreign country or from a faulty piece of furniture. If the tenant is responsible for the infestation, landlords may be required to pay for the extermination costs, as well as any related relocation costs.
