Moving into apt with bed bug history/currently in building

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Uncategorized

Moving into apt with bed bug history/currently in building

(7 posts)

Shiry

newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 3

Posted 6 months ago
Sat Sep 19 2009 19:33:17
#

Login to Send PM

I was horrified to find out today that the apartment building in Brooklyn I've signed a lease on for October has 2 apartments (out of 6) infested with bed bugs. These apartments are on the 2nd and 3rd floor, and I'm moving into an apt on the 1st floor. I got in touch with the old tenant and he told me that his roommate had seen a few bed bugs but that it wasn't an infestation (he hasn't gotten back to me with more info). From what I've read, if you are seeing any bed bugs, you have an infestation. My landlord has agreed to fumigate the apt in a couple of days but 1 out of 3 of us has already moved in (she only owns an air mattress and her suitcase). What should I do??? Should I risk losing up to $1700 to try to get out of my lease?? Or should I just suck it up and do as much as I can (vacuuming, steam cleaning, caulking) before I move in? There's barely anything in the apt, so maybe it'll be easier to take care of? I'm extremely conflicted because I don't want to lose the money, but the thought of possibly getting bed bugs is beyond disturbing to me. I know the landlord isn't really willing to fumigate the entire building which is what seems necessary, and his lack of concern worries me. What would you all recommend?
BuggedInSomerville

junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 65

Posted 6 months ago
Sat Sep 19 2009 19:53:59
#

Login to Send PM

Wow, so your landlord let you sign the lease and pay the deposit without mentioning any of this to you?? Disgusting. It's money-grubbing landlords like that who are helping fuel the spread of these bugs. I don't know if a landlord is under any legal obligation to share that information, but I would absolutely express dissatisfaction with them for not notifying you of the bedbug problem in the building (if two of the units are infested, obviously they're spreading within the building, and yes, if the past tenant saw a few during the day, they're definitely taking over, or about to take over, yours) and would use that as leverage to get out of the lease and to get as much of your money back as possible, if not all of it. Even if the landlord fumigates your unit, who knows what's going on with the other infestations and how deeply rooted the bugs are in the building as a whole, and who knows how successfully or thoroughly your unit itself will be treated. You don't want to move in, develop an infestation, and look back to this moment and wish you had made a different decision. I would do anything to rewind time and prevent whatever led to my infestation, and I would certainly encourage you to do anything possible to get out of this lease. I know this isn't the warmest advice, and I will qualify it by emphasizing how troubled/traumatized I am from my infestation so perhaps I'm overreacting, but bedbugs are worth avoiding at all costs. I'd estimate you'd lose more money than 1700 dollars, not to mention a lot of time, energy, and sanity, if you move into an infested or to-be-infested apartment.
helpmenyc

newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 19

Posted 6 months ago
Sat Sep 19 2009 20:02:57
#

Login to Send PM

I agree $1700 is nothing compared to what I have spent. Also, since you haven't taken possesion of the apt, you probably can get out of it. Call 311 to find out the rules?
nervousaboutbedbugs

junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 85

Posted 6 months ago
Sat Sep 19 2009 20:36:20
#

Login to Send PM

We've spent more than that on an unconfirmed bedbug problem ($800 on dogs that say yes, $850 on PCOs that say no, extra $400 on electric bill to cover extra clothes drying, $300 packtite, it goes on and on). You couldn't pay me to move into an infested apartment, especially since you have no control over what the other tenants or Landlord will do.

I would try to get your money back and move on...
nycbedbug

junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 52

Posted 6 months ago
Sun Sep 20 2009 5:42:04
#

Login to Send PM

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT move in! No matter what, moving in would be worse. It's so hard to understand the magnitude of it if you haven't been through it, but please trust all of us. Good luck!
concernedmom1

newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 6

Posted 6 months ago
Sun Sep 20 2009 8:45:48
#

Login to Send PM

I am an older woman living in my own home upstate from you, and on this forum to managing my daughter's infestation half way across the country, due to her work and study demands. I think we are beyond the bed bugs now, after 5 exterminations (and there was never evidence of these bugs seen, only huge red welts repeatedly diagnosed by the MD, and bugs in the building that had been seen, so this was not a major infestation!), and her landlord has funded every penny to date. But if you have not been through this you cannot begin to understand the psychological (I am also a therapist and have studied these websites with professional interest) and TIME that is required to come out the other side. The advice posted here ins 100% correct...this is your mother talking. Do not move one personal possession into this apartment and find out your legal rights to get your deposit etc back...it may take time but you can do it. being out a bit of money for a short period of time is NOTHING compared to managing this problem. Some weeks for me it has nearly been a full time job! And above all SPREAD the word. I will never again travel without first checking hotels, taking precautions when I return etc.
Shiry

newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 3

Posted 6 months ago
Sun Sep 20 2009 11:33:19
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks everyone! We are going to do everything in our power to get out of our lease. Please let the law be on my side on this! I seriously think landlords should have a responsibility to tell potential tenants about bed bug problems in the building. This is a health issue -- mental health!