NEW PLACE, INFESTATION HELL! « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tools/ideas for fighting bed bugs

NEW PLACE, INFESTATION HELL!

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bonini

newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 1

Posted 3 months ago
Sun Jul 19 2009 14:43:59
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My husband, myself and my two toddlers finally finished moving all our things and ourselves into our new apt here in precious Brooklyn, NY, after weeks of insane chemical tossing, expensive foggers, and complaining to an ignorant landlord who believes that bugs are bugs and that in his country everyone has to learn to live with them. ( i really want to go back to my old apt). Anyways, so here is my current situation. I was living in a small two bedroom apt,( and i say small because it was really TWO bedrooms, a small kitchen area and the bathroom) where the rent wasn't too high and there was heat in the winter, absolutely no ROACHES AND NEVER, EVER a BED BUG!. (A surprise in NYC) lol.... Anyways, well our family grew and we decided that it was time to start looking for a new apt. I wanted to be close by my mom and my grandma and they had recently also moved so i was praying to find sometime near them as well. My prayers where answered only to pay for all my sins! lol We thought we were lucky enough to find an apt just a building away from my mother, it was pretty big, Three bedrooms, bathroom, big kitchen, and nice living room. The area seem friendly enough to walk at 1am but dangerous enough to be home by 1am, so we decided to check it out. A family was still living there but they were moving out at the end of the month. So, haven't not checked the crevices of the WHOLE APT, we ignorantly decided to give the landlord the security deposit and waiting for the tenants to leave. Okay, so the day came, they had moved out, so my husband and i decided to check it before we moved in to see what it needed. "AHHHHHH".. "HOLY, SHI^"!. my husband and i yelled. The place was crawling in BED BUGS and roaches and i mean CRAWLING. There was no corner that they weren't visible in. I was scared and still am, not only because regardless of the things we have exposed this apt to such as the ones mentioned in the beginning, but am scared for by babies. The thing is all the chemicals got rid of the roaches, cause i haven't seen many since i moved in, but the BB's still among us. I dont have a lot of furniture so i guess that's a pro, but so far i have been bitten severely just by sitting for less than five minutes on the floor. I have found already lots of them crawling through the boxes of clothing and toys and essential items. I haven't slept for two days, i see them in my clothes tiny ones like babies i think. I need help i just don't know who or what to turn to, And forget about my landlord, he just wants to collect rent and is never available to ask for a fumigator. I fear for my sons most of all, I check on them every five minutes to see if i notice any bumps, i feel like burning all my items and considering living in a bubble lol but we all that an option like that is stupid, but who knew that these gross critters and really put a freeze on your daily life. I haven't been able to eat!. PLEASE, any suggestions and options are appreciated. PLEASE!!!!
cilecto

senior member
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 459

Posted 3 months ago
Sun Jul 19 2009 14:53:31
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OMG. Hug.
In a post a long time ago, I suggested that one day someone will kill over bedbugs. This is what I meant. Hang in there, though. Consider consulting a lawyer re your rights.
cilecto

senior member
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 459

Posted 3 months ago
Sun Jul 19 2009 21:52:33
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Have you positively ID-ed bed bugs, not roach nymphs, spider beetles, etc.? Assuming that you have, being that your landlord has chosen to ignore, I'd post your building to bedbugregistry dot com and call 311. At least it'll be on record. Then calmly make a plan of how to attack it. Meanwhile, focus on relief of symptoms (anti itch lotion and the like) and gearing up for the marathon. You are family, you're there for each other, I hope. If you feel you overdid the chems, you could mop up the excess from surfaces and open some windows. Ask around about PCOs who know what they're doing and don't turn your life over. Also, ask neighbors what the rest of the bldg is like. Is it the apartment (and you may be able to treat successfully) or is it the building (and all you could do is defend yourself and your stuff in anticipation of a better place down the road). Spend some time on the FAQs here, also sites like newyorkvsbedbugs and bedbugcentral. Avoid buying stuff 'til you've re-thought and replanned your battle. Again, best of luck.
buggyinsocal

oldtimer
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,160

Posted 3 months ago
Sun Jul 19 2009 22:24:31
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Since I'm three hours east of my usual time zone, it's late. I'm also on an unreliable network, so I'll try to keep this short.

First step=confirming that you do have bed bugs and not another bed bug look-alike pest.

Fighting bed bugs on your own in a building that likely has a problem in more than one unit is a very hard thing to do.

However, if you have a landlord who is unwilling or unable to deal with the problem properly, esp. someplace like Brooklyn where bed bugs area known factor, you might be able to get health department and/or tenants' rights organizations to intervene to help move the problem along.

However, the time and energy spent fighting that battle might not be worth any return you get from it in the end.

If you haven't familiarized yourself with the FAQs on the main page, go there. Pay extra attentions to the ones on legal issues and dealing with landlords, as I expect those will have very useful info.

Hang in there, and I'm so sorry to welcome you to the battle.
fightingBBinNYC

newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 6

Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 11:24:03
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It is BIG TIME against the law to not treat BB's. Its called a violation of the warranty of habitability (http://hubpages.com/hub/Tenants-Rights-101--The-Warranty-of-Habitability-in-New-York). Do this: Call 311 and ask for an inspector from HPD to come and look for violations. If one is put down, you don't pay rent until it's fixed, and more over, you likely won't OWE any rent for the months that the violation stands (a rent abatement). Alternatively, you could hire an exterminator to come in, confirm the bed bugs in a letter then, withhold rent until a court day.

I would look into a lawyer in both cases. If not, try calling the DHCR for advice.

I find it appropriate that most LL's are about as disgusting as the creatures that infest their properties.
momto2boys

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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 29

Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 13:12:42
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Just wanted to say that as a mom of 2 toddler I sympathize with what you're going through! You've gotten good suggestions here. Maybe isolating your kids' crib/beds and your own too would be a good way to get some relief and hopefully some sleep until you can move or treat.