landlady threatening eviction if we don't kill bedbugs the first time-- advice??

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landlady threatening eviction if we don't kill bedbugs the first time-- advice??

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rgrobste

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 12:41:31
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hi ya'll. i could really use some advice. my roomies and i discovered we had bedbugs this weekend after a couple months of imagining we were the victims of really large, tenacious spiders or mosquitoes. our landlady has told us that we have one shot to get rid of the bugs, or else she'll evict us and take our security deposit. so we have been combing through our stuff like crazy, sealing it in plastic boxes etc., before the exterminator comes. but it seems like an impossible task to get rid of them thoroughly the first time, given all that i've read. (in fact it seems like sealing stuff away is a bad idea unless we intend to leave it unopened for 18 months, though we're following instructions of the exterminator.) should we just move out now?? any advice?? very desperate and anxious. thank you.
bugbattler

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 12:45:42
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hey there! Your landlord sounds like a monster.

My suggestion, contact an attorney. Have the attorney write the landlord a letter advising her of where she can shove said letter along w/ her demand.

When it comes to dealing with landlords, I've learned this lesson the hard way: give 'em hell!
losingit

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 12:58:42
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Hi - I don't believe it's legal to evict anyone because of bbs. I'd check with my local landlord/tenant agency for some advice. Each state/province may have different regulations but eviction sounds pretty iffy on something like that.

Unless either you admitted to bringing them in or she can prove you did it's also her responsibility to take care of it (again this may vary place to place).

Do some checking up on the laws where you live and take it from there.
rgrobste

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 13:04:08
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thanks for your feedback. well yeah, my landlady is definitely not an angel, but in all fairness she's being pretty rational: she hadn't had problems with bedbugs in her apartments before, and my roommate has a habit of collecting junk off the street to paint on, so she's pretty certain the fault is ours. (i am too.) she doesn't want the problem to spread and thinks, probably correctly, that she'd have an easier time combatting the bedbugs if we weren't in the picture. then she's only have to worry about cleaning the apartment, and not take the chance that the bedbugs were hiding in our stuff. she was actually initially pretty sympathetic until she spoke to the exterminator and realized what an enormous (and costly) undertaking the process would be. so i guess my question is, do you really think we could make this a legal issue -- i suppose she can't PROVE we brought the bedbugs... does she have to allow us to stay?
rgrobste

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 13:08:38
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p.s. good thought to check about laws, will do. just seems like yet another huge uphill battle to fight! we live in astoria, queens... dunno if anybody has had experience dealing with tenant agencies around these parts?
bitten123

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 13:11:26
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1) Seek legal counsel whether an attorney or through the housing board

2) Make the roommate who collects junk to read every item in the FAQ section of this board. It is not safe for them to ever collect junk curbside again..EVER

3) Your landlord would be smart if you stayed and got the treatment, as the bugs will spread if you leave...they will seek out a food source, her other tenants.

4) Talk to your landlord again, have her come to this site. The more knowledge she has the better, because like it or not, they are in her building now and she will have to deal with it.

5) If you do move, you will most likely take them with you and infest a new building. I would really suggest you talk to her, stay put, treat them and get rid of all infested items out of your apartment...work with her so that both her building and you guys can be free of them.
losingit

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 13:22:59
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If you suggest some mutual arrangement with the treatment costs (50-50 or something) she may back off on the eviction threat and make life a bit easier for you. Plus if you DO genuinely feel your roomies second hand stuff is the source, then it's the right thing to do, I know you can't be 100% how they got in = use your judgement on that...

Again, check with your local laws on that, sorry I can't help I live in Canada.

It's also best if you STAY put until you can resolve it - as bitten123 says.

It's also important that she (or you) contact your neighbours to alert them and have them either get a treatment in case the bbs flee as they are known to do or at the very least give them a heads up on the situation.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 14:10:11
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In NYC in most cases landlords have to pay for bed bug eradication. Not one treatment, as many as needed. (There may be some exceptions.) Call MET COUNCIL ON HOUSING for a confirmation of your rights. http://metcouncil.net/

I do not think she can evict based on this, though it may depend on size of building, number of units, whether you have a lease.

Also, your roomie needs to stop pulling stuff off the street, or you need a new roomie. One prominent NYC PCO claimed the city's bed bug problems started in Astoria. I don't know if that's true, but it is certainly one of the hotspots.

It would be nearly impossible for a landlord to prove you brought them in. Unless you just brought in a new item that was infested, I would be suspicious that neighbors may have them to and may have no idea. Or they may fear the landlady so much they won't tell her. (Nice, huh?!)
rgrobste

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 15:25:23
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thank you all very much. that is really helpful and takes some of the load off my mind. i've looked into nyc tenant rights and it appears that no, my landlady technically can't evict us. man, i just hate the thought of having to start a long battle with her over this! meanwhile my roommates and i have started our clean-up, and i'm wondering if we can throw things like stuffed animals, small rugs etc directly into the dryer, or must they be washed first? if i'm understanding correctly, the heat is the key, correct?
rgrobste

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 15:26:26
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thanks for the 50-50 suggestion losingit... that might make life easier, i agree.
losingit

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 15:59:33
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It's the heat that gets them - most people think 45 mins or even an hour on the highest heat setting is best. If your stuff feels hot to touch when you take it out then you may be ok. Don't overload!

I wouldn't wash the stuffed animals but anything else that can be washed in hot water and then dried on hot is a bit of insurance (double whammy). Remember though, that it's redundant to wash/dry and then put stuff back out in your place cos it potentially get bugs on it, so put anything you don't need immediately straight from the dryer into Ziplock bags until at least you get treated.

Check the FAQs on this forum, Im sure someone has a list of how to go about all this that can guide you...
ohdear

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 16:15:17
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Are you in the NY area? My best advice for a one-shot extermination is to contact KillerQueen who's active on these forums. The guys a genius. And then take your landlady DOWN.
rgrobste

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 4 2008 16:35:45
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hahaha i like your 'tude ohdear. thanks for recommendation, will see what i can find out.
Klaus

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Dec 17 2008 16:34:21
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It definitely sounds like your landlord is in the wrong. Bed bugs are not attracted by dirt or filth like roaches! They are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale and our blood. Unless your landlady wants you to stop breathing or stop having blood, she cannot evict you for something you aren't necessarily responsible for. I have been reading countless articles by pest experts, and bed bugs can come into your home in so many possible ways that you can't really prevent it from happening the first time because it can be a random, isolated event.

If you slept on an infested bed or couch, you could have carried it over. If someone enters your house with infested clothing, they can easily transfer to you. The bottom line is this: a few bedbugs can thrive into a huge infestation. Your landlord has to prove that you are responsible for the bed bugs. And according to people from Orkin and Terminix, they don't even bother trying to figure how they got in because the possibilities are endless. So, call yourself an attorney and tell them about the threat. Keep in mind though, dirt, filth, and clutter provide bed bugs with more hiding places. Like always, clean thoroughly before starting treatment.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Dec 17 2008 18:59:42
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We have extensive FAQs on killing bed bugs in your stuff:

http://bedbugger.com/faqs
ufatbasted

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Dec 17 2008 20:33:15
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I second contacting Killer Queen if your in nYc. He answers all your questions happily, knows his stuff. He's very thorough. Good guy too. He's a real bedbug hunter!
I'm infected and he treated my place.
He just did a follow up treatment a week ago. I'm not out of the woods yet but should be soon.

Good luck getting rid of these pests
KillerQueen

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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Dec 18 2008 0:35:04
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Thanks for the kind words guys!! I'm lost on ohDear? I looked over my PM's and don't recall the screen name. Did we speak over the phone? ufatbasted ..LOL (I love that name) Have no worries... You will soon be a success story my friend!
Deathlyallergic

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Oct 31 2009 0:24:07
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KillerQueen - 10 months ago »
Thanks for the kind words guys!! I'm lost on ohDear? I looked over my PM's and don't recall the screen name. Did we speak over the phone? ufatbasted ..LOL (I love that name) Have no worries... You will soon be a success story my friend!

Can you come out to Cali and save me from them. Im deathly allergic as I found out so abruptly a few weeks ago!!!