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  • January 4, 2013 at 11:40 AM #20428
    EconProf
    Participant

    As a landlord, am I responsible for remediating a tenant’s bed bug problems? They have rented my apartment for about 6 months, and the bugs were probably left by the previous tenant. When they moved in they complained about bugs and I accordingly had a pest control company treat the apartment. But the problem persists, they claim they replaced bedding and mattresses, and seem to be on the verge of demanding compensation. And the pest control company said they warned us upon the initial treatment that this may not do the job, since once entrenched, bed bugs are hard to eliminate. Aaarraauugg!
    What to do? Anybody else have this problem?

    January 4, 2013 at 12:51 PM #757198
    Coronita
    Participant

    You know, I think this is a case in which I would personally just take care of it.

    Even if you can manage not to take care of it and manage to get the tenant to do it, you really don’t want to leave this particular problem in your tenant’s control.

    The last thing you want is an infestation (which would persist, if your tenant gets fed up and leaves)…

    You mention “apartment”, which means if it gets bad, it could end up going into other units…You don’t want to be on the hook for that either (though it would be interesting to prove)…

    This is one case I’d say, bite the bullet and take care of it.

    Bed bugs are just nasty.

    January 4, 2013 at 1:37 PM #757201
    zk
    Participant

    Flu, I’ve read it can cost $7,000 to eliminate a bed bug infestation. Would that change your opinion?

    January 4, 2013 at 2:29 PM #757204
    no_such_reality
    Participant

    If you’re sure the problem is your unit, it actually may be more effective to pay your tenant to leave, nuke the bug problem and then get a new tenant.

    Trying to treat in situ may be pointless as depending on the length of infestation, they’ll be in everything, luggage, bedding, clothes, hamper, mattresses…

    January 5, 2013 at 8:17 AM #757230
    EconProf
    Participant

    Having read up on bed bugs, I have decided to get very proactive. Called in the original pest control company to re-treat premises and possessions, and stressed they had to solve the problem. Part of their job is teaching the tenants their role in this–especially washing and drying at high temperature all bedding, clothing, etc. Their kids have sores from the bites, and I doubt they brought in the problem–it was the previous tenants–so they are the victims and this is more than just a legal problem. If necessary, I will pay them an agreed upon amount to leave, throw out all carpeting and nuke the place before the next tenant comes in.
    To other Piggs: still want to try landlording?

    January 5, 2013 at 9:24 AM #757235
    Coronita
    Participant

    [quote=EconProf]Having read up on bed bugs, I have decided to get very proactive. Called in the original pest control company to re-treat premises and possessions, and stressed they had to solve the problem. Part of their job is teaching the tenants their role in this–especially washing and drying at high temperature all bedding, clothing, etc. Their kids have sores from the bites, and I doubt they brought in the problem–it was the previous tenants–so they are the victims and this is more than just a legal problem. If necessary, I will pay them an agreed upon amount to leave, throw out all carpeting and nuke the place before the next tenant comes in.
    To other Piggs: still want to try landlording?[/quote]

    Yes. Because shit happens. Everywhere

    January 5, 2013 at 7:02 PM #757253
    CA renter
    Participant

    [quote=EconProf]Having read up on bed bugs, I have decided to get very proactive. Called in the original pest control company to re-treat premises and possessions, and stressed they had to solve the problem. Part of their job is teaching the tenants their role in this–especially washing and drying at high temperature all bedding, clothing, etc. Their kids have sores from the bites, and I doubt they brought in the problem–it was the previous tenants–so they are the victims and this is more than just a legal problem. If necessary, I will pay them an agreed upon amount to leave, throw out all carpeting and nuke the place before the next tenant comes in.
    To other Piggs: still want to try landlording?[/quote]

    Sounds like you’re willing to do the right thing for your tenants, EconProf. I looked this up after seeing your post yesterday, and in some states, it is mandated that LLs take care of the problem. Didn’t look specifically at CA, but this is definitely a problem none of us would want to have.

    FWIW, I did read that diatomaceous earth can be helpful in keeping down (hopefully, eliminating) bedbug populations. This should be used in conjunction with professional treatments.

    Best of luck getting rid of those pests!

    January 5, 2013 at 9:42 PM #757260
    ucodegen
    Participant

    [quote=CA renter]FWIW, I did read that diatomaceous earth can be helpful in keeping down (hopefully, eliminating) bedbug populations. This should be used in conjunction with professional treatments. [/quote]It does by abrading the bugs as they move. Also helps with fleas.

  • I would recommend moving the tenants out.
  • Suggest they replace all beds, couches.. or have them leave them in when you bomb the place.
  • Have them wash everything else at a laundromat and dry at high temp. Be very careful of handling because the clothes they are wearing when cleaning ‘may’ also have bugs/eggs on them (handle things short sleeved?).
  • Bathe and switch clothes. Make sure you then clean the clothes you took off.. treat them as ‘contaminated’ until cleaned (put them in plastic bag immediately after taking them off – try to avoid them dropping to the floor when taking of).
  • Do not bring cleaned clothes back into the house. (Hotel?)
  • Steam Clean carpet.. bed surfaces and couches if they are there. – dry.
  • Work Diatomaceous Earth into the carpet, bed surfaces(w/o sheets), couches – vacuum after the bombing.
  • Bomb the place. (could also work Hartz flea spray into the carpet before bombing.. ) The Diatomaceous Earth could potentially aid in getting poison into the bugs because it abrades the bugs as they move. The Hartz can help prevent them from surviving the bombing if deep in the carpet.
  • Now replace the carpet.

    The reason why all of the ‘duplicate’ effort, is that all it takes is a few eggs.. or a few to survive. You want to reduce the likelihood of eggs or bedbugs falling off the carpet or transferring to the workers when the carpet is being removed.

January 6, 2013 at 9:05 AM #757268
NotCranky
Participant

I put 100% tile floors in my rental. If I get another one it will be all tile or tile, wood and sheet flooring of some kind. Every third or fourth tenant will not be suitable for carpet, so prepare for them in advance.

January 7, 2013 at 9:34 AM #757299
TenaciousSD
Participant

Take care of the bedbugs (see CCS 1941 below) within 30 days and you should be fine. I agree with ucodegen and would recommend moving the tenants out. End of story.

What happens if you don’t? Lets say they already provided you a letter in writing letting you know that they have bed bugs. They can just take pictures of the infestation and provide a letter letting you know that they are vacating (using CCS 1942) and request a final walk through. You’ll receive a prorated rent check through the last day with the memo portion saying “Civil Code 1942 termination prorated”. If you go to court, it will cost you more, and you still have to take care of the bed bugs.

Civil Code Section 1941.1 paragraph 1, Health and Safety Code Sections 17920.3, 17920.10.

A rental unit may be considered uninhabitable (unlivable) if it … is a substandard building because [of] … inadequate sanitation, or a nuisance endangers the health, life, safety, property, or welfare of the occupants or the public.”

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/problems.shtml

January 9, 2013 at 8:47 PM #757392
ctr70
Participant

How can it be proven whether the bed bugs were there or bought in by the tenant?

January 9, 2013 at 8:52 PM #757393
ctr70
Participant

What a nightmare Econprof. Keep us up to date on how you resolve this. You just made me feel a lot less confident about being a landlord!

January 10, 2013 at 6:33 AM #757399
scaredyclassic
Participant

Who first said

Sleep tight don’t let the bedbugs bite.

How can one stop the biting?

Dumb advice probably from a financial advisor.

January 10, 2013 at 11:36 AM #757447
EconProf
Participant

Update: Had a pest control company treat today for the bed bugs. They sprayed all corners of carpets throughout apt, plus mattresses, etc. Tenant is being tolerant & putting up with a lot–I know I wouldn’t like some guy to be spraying blue liquid on my mattresses. But, as another poster pointed out, there is no proof as to how the bed bugs got here in the first place. That is my ultimate defense if this gets in front of a judge.
If this doesn’t work, I will probably negotiate some monetary settlement to have him leave, then throw out the (nearly new) carpets, & treat the apt. fully.

January 12, 2013 at 12:20 AM #757590
mike92104
Participant

If I were a tenant, I feel I would be satisfied with being allowed out of my lease, and an immediate refund of my deposit in order to put it down on a new place.

For now, I would suggest buying some good microfiber mattress encasing. It might not get rid of the bugs, but should help provide some relief.

You’re an awesome landlord for wanting to take care of your renters.

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