Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » General Topics

Moving in 3 months, neighbors have bugs - ack!

1. 

   cincybug
   

   newbite
   Joined: Jul '08
   Posts: 19

   offline

   
   Posted 3 years ago
   Fri May 29 2009 0:56:32
   #
   
   
   
   Login to Send PM
   

   Waaaaaaah! That is the first thing I need to get out.

   Here's my deal:
   Living in a bldg w/4 apartments. Last July, the person directly above me got bed bugs, so our house was treated 6 times. I was told that a few bugs were found in my headboard, but I stayed w/a friend (I know, I know, NOT a good thing), for a bit and when I returned a few treatments were done, and I was never bitten. Once, I found one clear bug on top of my mattress cover. (The PCO said "good eyes!")

   One neighbor has asthma or some such ailment, and refused 6 treatments, but had a lesser number. Now HE has bedbugs! He's upstairs and diagonal away from me. I bagged up my stuff again, luckily some was still in bags and am planning to wash all my clothes again and go through the whole routine.

   My apartment is not bed bug friendly: no carpet, only one chair w/a cushion. Most furniture is wood, but there's not much furniture (I'm young and broke).

   Here's my problem: I must must MUST move to another city in either the 2nd or 4th wk of August. No way around it. I already have a great roommate and NOW my neighbors have bugs. There are no signs of bugs in my place. My mattress still had the cover on from before. My landlord is great, and will get the whole building treated.

   Ethically, I feel like I have to tell the new roommate and, by extension, the new landlord. What do you guys think about that? Should I wait and see if the treatments work/see if I get them, then tell my new roommate? Should I just tell this person now? And what landlord will rent to me if I tell them there is this chance of bed bugs? I feel like a leper!

   My furniture is used, donated, or crap. By the time I pay for Vikane, I bet I could just pitch it all and start over. If this roommate is even willing to still share an apartment with me, do you guys think that's my best bet? I could just sterilize my clothes (familiar with THAT routine) and take only clothing items with me. Even my computer is due to be replaced.

   My parents are willing to let me store properly debugged, bagged/protected items (like books in plastic tubs with duct tape) in their basement. The furniture will be sad to lose, but I can let it go. The real question is: how/when should I tell this roommate (I don't know her that well)? Does anyone suppose there is any chance she'll still want to deal with me? And, how do I avoid taking bugs with me?

   Do I owe it to the future roommate to call off the deal and room alone? I want to do the right thing, but I'm not a millionaire.

   I could cry, this whole thing just sucks so much. I don't even want to go to bed; just don't want to wake up in the morning and have to face this all over again!

2. 

   BugsInTO
   

   senior member
   Joined: Aug '08
   Posts: 408

   offline

   
   Posted 3 years ago
   Fri May 29 2009 1:55:18
   #
   
   
   
   Login to Send PM
   

   CincyBug - You are a good and responsible person. These are hard ethical decisions and I compliment you on your careful consideration. Take a little more time to get a better assessment of the current situation to see how things are going.

   I think you will have to explain to your planned roommate. I also think that if you take just your clothing and you are very careful, it is possible that you can move without the bedbugs. You can plan your move decontaminating as you pack, seal everything very well, and unpack in stages once you are there, decontaminating everything a second time before putting it away.

   Or maybe you can get a bedbug dog to meet you at the new location before you settle in to go through your stuff one more time? .

   But, funnily enough, I don't think that you have to tell the landlord. Your roommate is someone with whom you have to have a "trust" relationship around safety. With your landlord, you have a business relationship. Your landlord has to take the risks of renting, and bedbugs in one of them. You have a moral and legal duty to do your best to behave in a responsible way. If you make your best effort, then that is all that is required. But in the case of your roommate - I think you have to disclose.

   I get the impression that the roommate and landlord are one and the same. If it doesn't work out and you have to go apartment hunting on your own, then don't feel obligated to tell your landlord. Believe me, they are not feeling the same obligation to you.

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.