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Updated over 6 years ago on . Most recent reply
Tenants says they have bed bugs. I pay or tenants pays?
A new tenant moved in March this year and at the time of renting, there was no signs of bed bugs. They called today (8 months later) and said they have bed bugs. The lease states we do not pay for pests, but I've decided to cover the cost the bed bug inspector fee of $90 and hoping to confirm if the bed bugs have been dormant and are now active, or if the tenant brought them in recently. I heard bed bugs can be dormant up to 10 months. Not sure if I can prove this.
The tenant is a model tenant and I would like to keep them happy. They do plan on resigning the lease in March. If the inspector confirms the bedbugs have always been there, I will probably pay for the total removal. If not I'm thinking only paying for the inspection but let them pay for the removal.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thank you.
Most Popular Reply
The tenants may have been exposed to BB after moving in. When tenants move into a house that has BB in it, they will be complaining loudly with in the first few weeks. If it is now 8 months after move in - then they brought them in somehow. Get a good professional pest control company to do an inspection and give opinion and estimate how long the problem has been in the home. I can't really tell you how to pick a good company, but there are a lot of shady ones out there including the big guys. Not everyone knows BB and not everyone wants to work with them.
Heat is the most expensive way to treat but not the best. Get some quotes and only deal with a company that will guarantee the work. Many don't guarantee results with BB. As an investor you should take the time to get a good pest guy on your team.
There is a lot of misinformation about BB out there. Tenants use that information to try to make this your problem. Yes, BB can live 12 to 14 months without feeding, but will not do so when there are people in the home. They don't "hibernate" or become "dormant". They eat our blood and make more BB and live in their own waste.