Bedbugs... Who is Liable? Tenant? Landlord?
Hey- I live in a brownstone in North Park Slope. The unit includes 5 residential rentals in 1 building. We occupy the top floor. About two weeks ago, the landlord had to evict the tenant below our bedroom. Ever since, we have noticed being bitten at night. We found our first bedbug in our sheets…
Hey-
I live in a brownstone in North Park Slope. The unit includes 5 residential rentals in 1 building. We occupy the top floor.
About two weeks ago, the landlord had to evict the tenant below our bedroom. Ever since, we have noticed being bitten at night. We found our first bedbug in our sheets last night.
In NYC Landlord-Tenant law, who is responsible for the extermination costs? I am renting, and the owner occupies the bottom two floors of my building. I do not know if any other occupants have had bedbug issues, or if it is just my apartment.
We are due to renegotiate the least tomorrow, so I would like as much information as possible on who is possibly responsible.
That might determine whether we have to find another place (we already paid a pet deposit = 1 month’s rent when we moved in to cover damages, etc.).
Also, if there is law on the subject specific to NYC, are those laws capable of being overridden by a clause in a lease (I know some laws cannot be modified, even upon consent of the parties)?
Any input would be appreciated!
Quote:
so the broker is sweet, loving, looyal and likes to kissies? hahah. for future reference you should call refer to him as a labradoodle. those dogs be nasty ass.
No. He smells fear and goes for the juggular before you know what is happening. Pitbulls can be NASTY when they want to be (also can be VERY loving… one of my favorite breeds). Labradoodles are just hyper. That hyperness can turn to aggression if not properly trained. Pitbulls, on the other hand, have been bread to kill (same with Akita, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and other hunting breeds).
What do the matress wraps do? Can the bedbugs burrow into the fabric? They look too big to fit between seems / threads… They are about the size of an apple seed… Like I said, I am going to break down the entire matress / platform combo (sleep number bed by select comfort) and will treat each part of the mattress separately for bedbugs. I am NOT throwing out a $2k+ matress if it can be cleaned.
Like I said, I think we caught it early enough (within 2 weeks of first bite.. and we have only seen 1 bug after searching for about 30 minutes with flashlight) that it has not spread through our entire apartment. We rolled up EVERYTHING on the bed (pillows, comforter, fitted sheet, sheets, pillow cases, etc.) up into the fitted sheet, and placed all of it inside a sealed plastic laundry bag. We are debating on whether to wash / clean them, or to just toss it all out and get new linens (we have spare ones that do not appear infested)… We will make that determination as soon as we get an inspection and know exactly how bad the infestation is (the worse it is, the more likely we will just toss the infested stuff).
Here’s to hoping its not THAT bad!
Cheers!
John
@Who – DDT (the only effective pesticide) was banned – since BB were essentially eradicated by the time it was banned 1970s – it took along time till they made it back at a noticeable level. They are back.
In reality BB have been a scourge on humans for all of our history (except for those glory years in the 20th century when we were allowed to use chemical warfare) – BB as an issue is actually the norm.
Personally I think they should just bring back DDT for licensed professionals (it is allowed in other countries btw)
Heat seems to be the best remedy, and prevention as much as possible.
I don’t put anything on the floor of a hotel room any more. I pack my clothes in plastic bags and leave them in my suitcase while on a trip, put all my stuff on metal racks or in the bathroom. And I look up hotels on the bedbug registry and never buy used furniture or clothes. But still they are just everywhere and they are getting worse.
@ Who – I read the huge BB infestation within the last 5-7 years is attributed to all the foreign tourists who are coming here to vacation in droves since the dollar weakened sharply. Not sure I believe it personally, but that’s where some of the blame is going.
Bedbugs will move between apartments in a single building, so it’s important to do the whole building if you’re going to do anything at all. That’s part of the reason it’s important that it’s the landlord’s responsibility. And I say that as a landlord. (please god do not send me bugs.)
If the bugs came from a neighbor’s apartment, the neighbor will have to go through the same rigorous regimen that you do – if they don’t you’ll just get reinfested.
What the broker said about there not being bedbugs when you moved in so if you get them, it’s your fault is not true and also not enforceable. He sounds like a peach, though.
“put them in the oven at the lowest temp for an hour with the door open”
I think this method might kill more than just the BB’s.
There has to be something people are doing to make bedbugs the current epidemic it is. What ever it is, its needs to be isolated and addressed. Bedbugs were an unknown problem in brooklyn a little over 5+ years ago.
So what has changed?
Unless someone gets to the bottom of the problem, I am concerned that bedbugs are going to get worse. Leaving one location going to another w/o resolving the initial problem increases the risk of spreading these pest.
Anyone know if a bed bugs are resistant to insect repellants?or if a bb resistant spray is available (similar to insect repellants?)
the city just reinstated a bed bug task force.. which actually seems pointless.. it would be better / nicer if the city provided financial assistance to the owners / renters of apts infested.. also the MTA has seriously dropped the ball on keep the trains cleans.
never, EVER sit on any of the wooden benches in the subways. they are crawling with bedbugs. kid you not.
*rob*
quote:
I am assuming the worst, because I know the landlord’s broker. The landlord is great. 90 yo woman who minds her business. Its her broker who is the pitbull.
so the broker is sweet, loving, looyal and likes to kissies? hahah. for future reference you should call refer to him as a labradoodle. those dogs be nasty ass.
*rob*