What would you do? (apartment, rent, condo)

[michealroland]

A friend of ours has been living in this condo complex for 5years. Last Friday she found out that she has bedbugs in her apartment. The building is sending its exterminator to check her unit and the surrounding units tomorrow but she was told that (if confirm there are bedbugs) they won’t be able to treat it for another week. She has been staying at a hotel since Friday. Can she withhold rent since the unit is not safe to live? What else would you do if you are my friend? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Ballervision]

Withholding rent seems like a good way to attract the ire of the landlord. Bed bugs are not dangerous.

CDC - Bed Bugs - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everyone is looking for a free ride.

[punkfan39126]

If she doesn't pay rent she's gonna wind up in housing court.

[eljean]

Lol is this a serious question? Is not the landlord's problem she has bedbugs. She still has to pay her rent.

[Cida]

Well, the first thing I'd do is choose a better, clearer title line, like "Need advice with a bedbug question."

Let's see...Ballervision is right that bedbugs aren't dangerous, but I think Eljean is wrong that it's not the landlord's problem (and rather mean with the "lol").

So, safety is not an issue and in fact a case could be made that she is selfishly opening the door for bedbugs to spread by going to a hotel. A week isn't a big deal, but it does seem like a long time to wait, and it were me, I would have argued that. In the meantime, she would have done better to try to catch some bugs for inspection and try some preliminary preventive measures herself.

Let us know if it turns out to be bedbugs after all. I keep being paranoid because I have unexplained itching, plus mosquito bites in the summer, but no bedbugs yet.

[10-23]

Might have been cheaper for your friend to eradicate the bed bugs herself instead of investing in a hotel.

It your friend sure that she didn't bring in the bed bugs herself?

[SanMan2k5]

Wwjd?

[balancesheet]

Originally Posted by Chaser199

Might have been cheaper for your friend to eradicate the bed bugs herself instead of investing in a hotel.

It your friend sure that she didn't bring in the bed bugs herself?

i believe it is the landlord's responsibility to remedy the situation anyways, no?

[Kefir King]

Remember too, she is out at least $1- 2 grand for that hotel.

I'd have stayed with the bugs and done whatever remediation I could think of to mitigate my getting bitten.


Does DEET do anything to repel bedbugs?

[10-23]

Originally Posted by balancesheet

i believe it is the landlord's responsibility to remedy the situation anyways, no?

Not if it was the friend who may have brought them in.