A succes story being held up by carefree neighbors.

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A succes story being held up by carefree neighbors.

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BigRedNY

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 10 2008 3:40:14
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So, I realized I had bedbugs around two years ago after I was constantly getting bit. Not only were they in my bedroom, but had spread to my grandfathers bedroom and my parents bedroom. We fought them with powders and spray and all sorts of other methods, including an exterminator provided by our landlord. I even wrote a brief article for an online website after I thought we had defeated the damn things.
Article Link if anyone is interested:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/202465/how_to_defeat_a_bedbug_infestation.html

Anyway, about the time we stopped getting bit, my mother had gone to the apartment of the old couple below us. To her horror, there were bedbugs all over the bedrooms. After a few weeks of refusing to let an exterminator in, they finally agreed to get treatment. The exterminator said it was so bad that when he lifted their bed, a ton of bugs fell on his legs and he had to spray himself.
To come back to modern times, they didn't follow up with subsequent treatments apparently, and not only do they have an infestation as bad as before, but the bedbugs seem to be coming through the walls and back into out apartment, which is directly above theres. We can keep fighting, but if they don;t deal with their mess, nothing will stop them.
I have no clue what to do.
IveBeenBugged

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 10 2008 10:19:59
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This is the samt thing I fear will happen with my situation. One tenant who refuses to allow them to treat her unit.

My main focus now is just trying to keep them at bay long enough for me not to get bitten to death (just kidding I mean get bitten a lot) because they will come back from her place now that the treatments for the building are done.

I have had my first non bite free week in many months and am actually relaxing a little more (at least for the moment) in my own apartment. Something I wouldn't have thought possible a week ago.

The end of my lease in May seems far away but hopefully I can make it until then with a minimum of bites and once they start again it's back to the lawyer to see if I can again force the LL and hopefully the uncooperative tenant to get a treatment already.

Check with a lawyer and your LL and also the local health department I don't think they can just refuse to have treatments. At least I hope not. I guess I will be finding out shortly about that myself.

Did I mention how nice it has been to wake up and go through a whole week without any bites? Wish it would last but I have my doubts.
bedbugsenigma

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 10 2008 21:26:57
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IBB, I am very happy for your bite-free week. I am dreaming of one.. Please keep us posted regarding the legal issue. Maybe you can start a topic on this when you get some answers. It is a major issue. Neighbors can't refuse to get treatment. I would expect the local health department to jump in. It seems insane that we have to hire a lawyer to get someone to open the door for treatment. Good luck and, again, please keep us posted.
Anonymous

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Posted 5 years ago
Mon Feb 11 2008 12:24:54
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What is the landlord's position on this? The landlord is the one with the authority to compel an inspection, etc.
bedbugsenigma

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Posted 5 years ago
Mon Feb 11 2008 14:34:08
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Nomo, do you know what's the landlord's legal obligation if it's a two-family unit and there's no lease? I know it may be a tough one.. May have to see a lawyer..
Anonymous

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Posted 5 years ago
Mon Feb 11 2008 14:40:53
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I'm sorry, BBE, my knowledge begins and ends with what's in the FAQ:
http://bedbugger.com/2006/10/22/faq-tenants-landlords-owners-and-bedbugs/

You should contact the Met Council for further info.

And I would add that even if the landlord is found not to be legally liable (and I just don't know) this shouldn't stop you from negotiating with him or her. Presumably he has an interest in keeping you as a good tenant and in keeping his property in good order.

What I think you should do regardless of who ends up paying for what is convincing him that his unit must be inspected because many people are not allergic.

Further, if there are attached units, he would be the ideal person to inform the neighbors to warn them, etc. But on that I wouldn't hold my breath, which would leave you with the decision of whether to inform those neighbors.

Start with the Met Council.

Have you informed your landlord about the bedbugs?
bedbugsenigma

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Posted 5 years ago
Tue Feb 12 2008 1:00:18
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Thank you so much for the info, 'nomo. I did not know about Met Council. Will call them up. Yes the landlord knows since the start and he has not given me a penny for this yet, while I have spent so much money that I can't even think about it. He promised to give me half of the last treatment but that's not much. I will try to negotiate for more. I have been thinking of booking a consultation with Steven De Carlo, the lawyer who won a famous bed bug related trial. Maybe I will start a topic on this. Will decide after the dog visit tomorrow.