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!
Please post your address on the BB registry website. Every little bit helps.
I read somewhere recently that it’s estimated 1 in 5 nyc apartments are infested by BBs? gak!
Yeah, maybe we could get the folks that run witness protection to start a new program to enable bedbug victims to start a new life.
Seriously – it’s the landlord’s job, he may want to reconsider the $200/mo rent rise if he doesn’t want the fact he owns an infested building to be widely known ;-), and best of luck!
We are definitely itching. Feels like a mosquito bite. I will let everyone know how it goes.
For future reference, we are at 164 6th Avenue, between Lincoln and St. Johns. Top Floor.
John
and a discussion of the topic here…
http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2009/07/13/bed-bugs-and-the-law-in-new-york-city/
Move immediately. Abandon all your furniture, clothes and other possessions. Euthanize the cat. Leave your family members and start a new life in another part of the country.
Seriously, you do have leverage with the lease expiring. You can ask him to take care of it before the renewal or add a rider to the new lease. The law will require the LL to make the place habitable but not necessarily to hire bedbug sniffing dogs or anything you might specifically want him to do.
Lots of previous forum posts/discussions on the subject. Check these links
http://bedbugregistry.com/ http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/home/home.shtml
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/vector-faq1.pdf
another question. are you allergic to them? if you get bitten and they swell up to red lumps and are itchy then you are allergic.. literally only like 50 percent of people are allergic. half people who have them dont even know because they wont get the swelled up red welts and they wont itch, so they can live with bedbugs without it being a problem.
*rob*
I meant i wish they told me about the problem before they move in. also they aren’t technically my tenants, they are my tenants roommates. still would of been nice to be told and i would of had them go through many procedures to makes sure they were clean etc…
I also lower my other tenants rents due to bedbugs, sucks if it didn’t happen rents would of stay the same damn stigma.
landlord is responsible but i wish my tenant who had them before they move in, this way i would of have their stuff decontaminated before they move in. it cost me 10k to do the whole building.