Tenants who don’t follow the rules could face fines or other penalties, including early lease termination and even eviction. Even in places that don’t have bed-bug-specific laws, your lease or rental agreement might require you to take certain steps if there’s a maintenance issue or defect in your rental.
Full Answer
What happens if a landlord does not fix an infestation?
If the landlord doesn’t, the tenant can sue for damages and specific performance, which is an order from the judge to fix the problem. The landlord must pay for the entire process unless they can somehow prove that the tenant was the source of the infestation.
Do landlords have to pay for bed bug exterminations?
Second, Alabama code 35-9A-407 states that tenants can recover damages and attorney’s fees if the landlord negligently or willfully diminishes services to the tenant. Alaska does not require landlords to pay for bed bug exterminations.
What happens if a tenant fails to report bed bugs?
A tenant’s failure to report bed bugs in this situation would also give the landlord grounds to terminate the tenant’s lease. Some tenants hesitate to report infestations, especially when state law doesn’t require them to.
How long does a tenant have to get rid of insects?
The only insect pest with specific legislation is bed bugs. In this case, tenants must immediately notify their landlord, who then has 96 days to respond to the problem. Connecticut has in place an implied warranty of habitability, so the law here works similarly to other states with such a warranty.
Report The Bed Bug Problem to Your Landlord
If you suspect bed bugs, contact your landlord or manager right away. Your landlord should bring in a qualified exterminator to inspect for and mea...
Get Ready For An Exterminator’S Inspection
Try to get information beforehand what to expect from an inspection. Typically, a pest management professional will examine the main bed bug site (...
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Exterminators usually recommend that tenants in bed bug-infested units take the following steps: 1. Remove all clutter. 2. Remove all items from cl...
Who Pays For Bed Bug Extermination and Relocation Costs
In keeping with their responsibility to provide habitable housing, landlords must pay to exterminate pests, such as bed bugs, that a tenant has not...
Tenant’S Right to Know About A History of Bed Bug Problems in A Rental Property
Most tenants don’t want to move into a rental unit that has problems such as flooding, and several states have laws requiring these types of landlo...
How long does it take to report bed bugs?
Some laws require tenants to report suspected infestations within a certain time—often 24-48 hours —after discovering a potential infestation.
What are the options for a tenant to consult with a lawyer?
Depending on state law, tenants have options that can include: personally hiring an exterminator. withholding rent. suing the landlord so a judge forces the landlord to exterminate. reporting the landlord or infestation to a local health or safety board.
What to do if you find bed bugs in your rental?
If you find bed bugs in your rental, your lease or local law likely requires you to take certain actions, including notifying your landlord.
What happens if you don't follow the rules?
Tenants who don’t follow the rules could face fines or other penalties, including early lease termination and even eviction. Even in places that don’t have bed-bug-specific laws, your lease or rental agreement might require you to take certain steps if there’s a maintenance issue or defect in your rental.
Can landlords retaliate against tenants?
But it’s illegal in almost all states for landlords to retaliate against tenants who assert a legal right, such as the right to a habitable unit free from bed bugs.
Do landlords have to pay for pest control?
Most of the time, though, landlords are indeed responsible for the costs of pest control. Bed-bug laws aside, the vast majority of states require landlords to provide tenants with habitable premises, and most judges would not consider a unit that’s infested with bed bugs to be habitable.
Can bed bugs be spread?
Bed bugs travel so easily and spread so quickly that an infestation can happen almost anywhere. Recognizing the problem bed bugs pose in rentals, some states and cities have bed bug laws requiring landlords and tenants to take certain measures to prevent bed bug infestations. Even if there are no applicable bed bug laws where you live, ...
How to file a complaint against a landlord?
The law also instructs renters on how to file complaints. You should notify your landlord in writing about the infestation. If they don’t respond within a reasonable time, send a “notice to repair or correct condition” via certified mail. This notice should: 1 Repeat the previous notice you sent 2 State how many days have passed without a response 3 State that the conditions have not been corrected 4 Demand that the condition be corrected immediately 5 State that if the owner fails to take action within three days you will “seek redress in the courts”
What is the law in Massachusetts for exterminating a dwelling?
Massachusetts state law states, “The owner of a dwelling containing two or more dwelling units shall maintain it and its premises free from all rodents, skunks, cockroaches and insect infestation and shall be responsible for exterminating them.”
How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs in Idaho?
Idaho. In Idaho, a landlord must arrange for a bed bug exterminator within three days of receiving notice that a unit may be infested. If the landlord doesn’t, the tenant can sue for damages and specific performance, which is an order from the judge to fix the problem.
What is the Alabama code for bed bug infestation?
First, a landlord’s failure to address a bed bug infestation could reasonably constitute a violation of Alabama code 35-9A-204 (a) (2). This law states that the landlord must “make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a habitable condition.”.
How long does it take to get an exterminator in Connecticut?
Connecticut requires landlords to hire a certified exterminator within 10 days of discovering an infestation. Tenants are required to comply with steps prescribed by the exterminator (such as doing laundry), or they can be penalized under the law.
What is the law in Kentucky for landlords?
Kentucky law requires landlords to “make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition,” and “keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition.” The law also makes allowances for tenants to file grievances and get damages for a landlord’s failure to comply with these requirements.
How much does it cost to get rid of bed bugs?
According to Home Advisor, the average cost for a bed bug exterminator in the US is $1,750. It can cost as little as $300 or as much as $5,000, depending on the size of the home. That’s a lot of money – and if you’re living on a low income budget, it’s money you definitely don’t have.
What to do if your landlord doesn't exterminate bed bugs?
Depending on your state's law, if your landlord fails to take care of a major bed bug problem, you might have options such as: withholding rent. deducting the costs of extermination from your rent.
What happens if you don't follow exterminator?
Keep in mind that if you don't follow the exterminator's advice, and the bed bugs reappear, you'll have to start the whole process all over again. Also, in some states, you could face fines if you don't follow or cooperate with your landlord's bed bug control measures.
What to do if you suspect bed bugs?
If you suspect a bed bug infestation in your unit or building, contact your landlord or manager right away. Your landlord should hire a qualified exterminator to inspect for and measure the concentration of bed bugs in your rental (and also adjoining units). Before any exterminator enters your unit, your landlord should give you proper notice ...
How long do you have to report bed bugs?
Some states have specific laws on the books about landlords'—and tenants'—duties regarding bed bug infestations. For example, state laws might require tenants to take steps such as: 1 report a possible infestation within a certain time—usually 24-48 hours—after discovering it 2 reasonably cooperate with the landlord's extermination efforts, and 3 comply with any specific control measures the landlord puts in place.
How long does it take to report a pest infestation?
report a possible infestation within a certain time—usually 24-48 hours—after discovering it. reasonably cooperate with the landlord's extermination efforts, and. comply with any specific control measures the landlord puts in place.
Do landlords have to disclose bed bugs?
Some states require landlords to disclose past or present bed bug infestations, and even more states require landlords to disclose general issues with the property. Tenants who are concerned about a property's bed bug-related past should ask the landlord outright about any prior infestations.
Do landlords have to give notice of extermination?
Before any exterminator enters your unit, your landlord should give you proper notice of entry for the exterminator's inspection, or work with you to come up with a plan for accessing your unit that works for both of you. Some states have specific laws on the books about landlords'—and tenants'—duties regarding bed bug infestations.
How long do landlords have to deal with bed bugs?
A bed bug infestation is a serious violation and landlords have 30 days to deal with the problem. While these laws are about bed bugs rather than pests in general, in general it shows that New York is a good state for enforcing their warranty of habitability.
What happens if you get ants in your apartment?
For example, if you get ants because your apartment is a mess with food spillage all over , you’ll likely be on the hook for extermination costs for your unit and possibly the entire building.
Does Delaware have pest laws?
Delaware doesn’t mention pests in their Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. The state has an implied warranty of habitability, requiring landlords to “keep in a clean and sanitary condition all common areas of the buildings, grounds, facilities and appurtenances thereto which are maintained by the landlord; Make all repairs and arrangements necessary to put and keep the rental unit and the appurtenances thereto in as good a condition as they were, or ought by law or agreement to have been, at the commencement of the tenancy”
Does Arkansas have a warranty on pest control?
The law in Arkansas has little to say about pest control. Arkansas is the only state that does not have a warranty of habitability. The law also states, “When you rent a house or apartment, you usually agree to take it ‘as is.’ This means that the landlord is not required to provide additional maintenance to the dwelling.”
Is there a law in Louisiana on pest control?
Louisiana. Louisiana laws are unclear as far as pest control responsibility. The closest the state comes to mentioning it is in their guide to preventing and treating for bed bugs for tenants and landlords. The guide is a good resource on pest control, but not great on the law.
Which state has an implied warrant for habitability?
Wyoming is another state with an implied warrant y of habitability, but not much else. This means the only legal obligation landlords have towards pest control is in cases where it influences the health and safety of the building.
Is California a good state for renters?
California. The situation in California is good for renters. According to the California Guide for Tenants, landlords are responsible for maintaining a warranty of habitability, which covers both seasonal pest treatments and handling of infestations.
What to do if your landlord refuses to pay for extermination?
Laws vary by state, but if your landlord refuses to pay for the cost of extermination then you may be able to take the following steps: Deduct the entire cost of extermination from your rent. Break your lease. Withhold rent. Sue the landlord.
Who is responsible for paying for bed bugs?
If the tenant did not introduce the bed bugs, then the landlord is responsible for paying to get rid of the infestation. But if the tenant brought the bed bugs into the residence then the landlord is not responsible for paying. In a multi-unit building it is hard to determine who brought the bed bugs into the building so ...
How long does it take to report bed bugs to landlord?
Require tenants to immediately notify the landlord of an infestation. Investigate any bed bug infestation reports within 24 to 48 hours of the report. Hire a qualified exterminator if there is an infestation.
What to do if you have bed bugs in your apartment?
Your landlord should respond by hiring a qualified exterminator to inspect the rental unit. The landlord must provide a notice of entry for the exterminator’s inspection to proceed.
How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs?
Typical steps include: Report the infestation within a certain period such as 24 to 48 hours. Cooperate with the landlord's extermination efforts. Always comply with the control measures specified by the landlord.
Do bed bugs care about a tenement?
Bed Bugs: Tenant and Landlord Rights. Bed bugs don’t care if you live in an upscale Manhattan high-rise or a Detroit tenement - they will happily set up residence anywhere with an ample supply of blood. What happens when bed bugs invade your rented living space?
Do landlords have to provide bed bugs?
It is important you know your tenant and landlord rights concerning bed bugs. Landlords must provide their tenants with what is termed a ‘safe and livable home’. This is referred to in legal terms as the ‘implied warranty of habitability.’. All 50 states fall under this requirement except Arkansas.
How long does it take to get a response from a landlord about an infestation?
You should receive a response within a week about next steps.
Who Pays for the Bed Bug Treatment?
It can be difficult to determine who is responsible for an apartment that becomes infested. In some cases, bed bugs can come from a tenant’s clothes or baggage, in other cases, it can come from a multi-unit dwelling.
Why is it important to have strong lines of communication between landlord and tenant?
Strong lines of communication are important between the tenant and landlord in order to properly coordinate the bed bug inspection. At this point a pest control professional should have been hired and a date should be scheduled for the inspection to take place.
What to do if your landlord isn't cooperating?
Depending on the law in your state, if your landlord isn’t responding in a timely manner or is failing to take care of a bed bug infestation you might have some options. Write a bed bug demand letter – State your case and demand that the landlord deals with the problem.
What happens before pest control is dispersed?
Before the actual chemicals are dispersed, pest control will work with the tenant to prepare the apartment for treatment.
How long can bed bugs live in an apartment?
Bed bugs in all life cycles (eggs, nymphs, adults) cannot survive longer than 90 minutes above 118 degrees Fahrenheit ( 48 degrees C ).
How long do you have to live in a single family home to be held responsible?
The situation where you as a tenant are likely held responsible is if you live in a single-family home – Especially if you have lived there for more than 2 years.