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Tenant moved in May 2014. One week ago, he notified me that she suspected bed bugs in her unit. After visual inspection it was confirmed that bed bug infestation was correct. Pest control svc is eradicating the unit today ($1,050.00).
I have spent the last 7 days reading/learning as much as I can about bed bugs from visiting several websites (CDC, EPA just to name a few), contacted 5 +/- pest control svcs, and spoken with 3 county health depts.
Have learned that bed bugs can hitchhike in by virutally any living thing, fabric/textile.
Okay I operate my rental business legally and morally. This is my call for help:
1 - how do you handle your move outs? Do you have pest(s) inspection before a move out? (To ensure that bed bugs are not present)
2 - how do you handle move ins? Do you require your new tenants sign a document stating that they are not bringing in bed bugs/pests?
3 - do you require your tenants to have certified mattress encasements?
4 - do you have a procedure that shows you are dutifully doing all possible efforts thus would reflect that you are not responsible for bug infestation?
1. Get the heat treatment by a professional. it will kill them with one treatment.
2. these bugs are sneaky and can come in from god knows where. you have to handle it right away or else they will multiply. the tenant can sign the paper in good faith, but might catch one somewhere and bring it home and now you have them. mattress encasements - yes 100% good idea, but not enforceable legally. tenant or landlord may be responsible for $$$ if on purpose the problem is known and it is not taken care of right away. your city might have an ordinance that you each must follow or $$$ fines will happen. keep everything in writing.