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Bugs in my new Rented Property

(4 posts)

kakihara

newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 2

Posted 2 months ago
Thu Sep 10 2009 7:58:16
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Hello,

I moved into a room as a lodger recently 30/08/09 and as yet have only stayed there one night as from night 1 I was being bitten (my reaction is severe and I was hospitalized and given steroids)

The place has been fumigated, the landlord has sorted that. But when I asked him to replace the mattress he said a flat no. Fair enough it's been treated but I really don't want to end up in hospital again and am cautious. So I am going to ask him for half my first weeks rent back so I can at least buy a mattress topper and new bedding. My old bedding was cheap and really not worth laundering. I know he is not going to be forthcoming.

So what I want to know is; am I being unreasonable here? I have not been able to inhabit the property, although my stuff has been there. But I have had to find alternative accommodation and pay for it twice.

Also, shouldn't he legally get a new mattress? As long as I know what is reasonable and what is not I will feel confident in my demands.

Thank you for any advice you can give me.
buggyinsocal

oldtimer
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,130

Posted 2 months ago
Thu Sep 10 2009 9:48:14
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I'm guessing from your post that you're not in the United States, and I am, so I am unfamiliar with both the terminology and the resources where you are.

However, in the States, renters in various cities often have agencies that deal with tenants' rights. Here in Los Angeles, they're called Fair Housing. In other cities, they are called things like Tenant's Rights boards and such.

I would begin by contacting the local version of that if you have one. Other countries may be less litigious, but in the US in some cities, renters can only withhold rent in certain circumstances.

Once you're 100% sure that you're bed bug free, encasements for your mattress may be an option if you cannot replace it. Many PCOs do not advocate the use of encasements while someone is being treated.

I would also be concerned about how effective the treatment has been if you aren't in the apartment while treatment is going on. Unfortunately, some of the qualities and behaviors of bed bugs make them harder to get at with chemical pesticides than many other common household pests. Many PCOs in the states expect that the person with bed bugs will be sleeping in the room that is being treated in order to, essentially, lure the bugs out of hiding to cross over the residual chemicals that have been laid down.

Other countries may use slightly different treatment techniques since other chemical pesticides may be available, although my sense from some European and Canadian PCOs and posters here is that at least in Italy, Britain, and Canada, treatment methods are similar. (I didn't look at your profile, but I did catch that you write you date dd mm yy and you used the word lodger. Both of those suggest someone speaking British English, not American English. What I don't know is where you are. ) And if the infestation was caught early, staying in the apartment for treatment may not be absolutely required. All I can tell you is what I've learned from hearing about other peoples' treatments--which is that most chemical treatments I've heard of involve the person sleeping in his or her room.

I realize that's not possible in your case given your extreme reaction to the bites. And I don't say that to discourage you. But I do say that so that you can exercise reasonable caution in solving your problem.
kakihara

newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 2

Posted 2 months ago
Fri Sep 11 2009 5:51:25
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Hi, um...that information has nothing to do with the information I am looking for....if anyone has an opinion on what is reasonable re; me asking for the first week's rent being refunded as I have not stayed there yet...please let me know, I am asking him for about 87 pounds back so I can replace my bedding a buy a new mattress topper so I am protected on the mattress he refuses to replace. Thanks.
BugsInTO

member
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 197

Posted 2 months ago
Fri Sep 11 2009 7:39:37
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Hi

Based on other postings I have read here about dealing with landlords, lots of people think it is reasonable to ask the landlord to reimburse them for out-of-pocket expenses involved in combating bedbug infestations in their rental units.

However, in Ontario, Canada, there is no obligation for the landlord to reimburse. I have read lots of posting from the US and it is no different there. You will have to check with the local laws in England ( I say this because you mentioned the monetary unit of "pounds") to find out if there is any such legal obligation, but I doubt there is one.

So, my feedback to you is that it is not reasonable to expect a landlord to do anything that they are not legally obligated to do.

I suspect you have rented furnished accommodation and that you want the landlord to replace the mattress or to at least put a bedbug cover on it etc. This would be in the landlord's best interests so maybe you can explain this to them. There is info in the FAQ's on the special bedbug covers and you can print it off and maybe use it to support your suggestion.

Beyond being reasonable, it is also important to be practical. It sounds like you have a stronger than usual allergic reaction to bedbugs. Consider whether you want to cut your losses and put your efforts into finding different accommodation.

Good luck.