Bed Bugs and Landlords!

It could also be dust mites. At the Allergy Relief Store in Franklin, (HWY 96 exit)I got some spray to put on the carpet and vacuum up a few hrs. later. It has helped. They also sell protective mattress covers, etc. The guy has been dealing with this stuff for over 17 yrs. And, if you are military, he is VERY supportive of the military. Hope you get relief. I would report the landlord to the local housing agency.

I believe I be finding another place to live. It sounds like it is not healthy there. The Landlord seems not to care about the condition. You need to do something about it. You might need to get new matrise and bomb the place with bug bombs. The the best I can do. Take care.

I use therapeutic-grade essential oils for everything, insect pests included. Though I have not had a bed bug issue I feel certain the same essential oils I used for tiny ants would work for bed bugs. You can read the article I wrote in my blog...
http://aromatherapy4u.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/young-livi...

I also have been using Palo Santo essential oil for ticks. So if I had bed bugs and found that a mixture of Peppermint and Purification essential oil blend didn't produce results, I would turn to Palo Santo. Here's the article I wrote on that...
http://aromatherapy4u.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/palo-santo...

I would never resort to using any kind of chemical sprays, even if people and pets were kept out of the room/house.,, and I wouldn't have to provided I had my essential oils. Please be mindful that when I speak of essential oils I am only referring to AFNOR therapeutic-grade (all others, including those sold in health food stores are perfume/lesser quality and unsafe).

If you're interested in trying essential oils please contact me.
E.

I think you need to make sure its bedbugs before jumping on the landlord.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedbugs/DS00663

And just an fyi, sometimes its better to deal with spiders and ants than to pump your home full of pesticides. The average house spiders arent ferocious, and actually help keep other bugs out of your home,while ants can be controlled by making sure you keep the areas they frequent clean and free of crumbs.

Of course, I would recommend a one time extermination, if its found you have bed bugs, but when it comes to most other bugs-if you're not infested, its best to skip the pesticides.

Hi A.,
you need to read your lease and see WHO is responsible for pest control( it may be all on you)..that being said..if your landlord has a heart ( many are missing this vital organ)tell him/her about your child's condition and the fear of bed bugs, and ask him to PLEASE have a pest control service come out and look at the house. ALSO..you can find a company to come out for free ,most of the time, and give a quote if they report there are infestations. Then you can approach your landlord with the report and tell him/her that your children's health are @ risk and " I'm sure you would rather take care of this NOW, and not have to deal with it litigiously later"
Good luck

I would call the city or county's code enforcement office. They can tell you what is required of landlords and you can have them come out to check. If your landlord is required to deal with this and isn't doing so, not only will he be cited and fined and forced to deal with it but it also gives you good cause to break your lease and mvoe somewhere with a more responsible and more responsive landlord.

A., Just google bedbugs and you'll see a beautiful series of Q/As on bedbugs. Sounds like a pest control company might help you in this situation. Bedbugs can be inside hard furniture and reside in soft furniture as well. After your house is treated, I would suggest having your furniture and carpets cleaned by a professional company, such as ours, that uses hot water extraction from a truck mounted machine. We also clean mattresses and could speak to you about that. Please check out our website at: rugwasher.com and send us an email if we can help you. Good luck!

Hi A.,
Begbugs typically bite in a linear pattern, usually three or four bites in row. They can bite just once, but usually the host will move causing the bug to move a little and continue feeding- thus the bite pattern.
If you truly suspect bedbugs, then I would inspect the bed for signs first. Look everywhere, including draperies, upholstery, etc. Then try putting some double sided tape around the crib/bed to see if you can catch the bugs as they move in the night. You can also go in at night with a flashlight and try to see them move about. Nevertheless, it is hard to actually catch a bug. I would have a pest removal professional come in and do an assessment. Based on the findings, I would then give the results to the landlord. If you get no response, have the exterminator spray, and then send the bill to the landlord. Your child's safety is most important and you can deal with the $$ issue later.
I hope this turns out to be nothing serious.

There's a legal way to handle this. You do something called "putting rent in escrow" where essentially you still pay rent, but not the landlord, until the problem is fixed. They have "X" number of months to resolve the problem without it being considered a break in the lease. I have looked up the law in KY, you can start from here...

Right to Deduct from the Rent. When the landlord fails to comply with the provisions of the lease or the Landlord/Tenant Act in a manner that affects the health and safety of the tenant, the tenant may make his own repairs and deduct the expenses incurred from the rent. Once the tenant has notified the landlord in writing of his intention to make the repairs at the landlord's expense, the landlord has fourteen days to comply. If no action is taken within the time allowed, the tenant may have the work done, paying the bill himself. After the tenant sends the landlord an itemized statement describing the work, the tenant may deduct the amount from the rent. Since the landlord's liability is limited, however, the tenant should be cautioned not to repair overly expensive items. The maximum the tenant may deduct is $100 or an amount equal to one-half the monthly rent, whichever is greater. To avoid the possibility of being responsible for payment of the bill, the tenant should seek legal guidance if there is any question as to the applicability of this provision (KRS 383.635).

Also, here's the provisions for termination of your lease:

Right to Terminate Lease. If the landlord fails to comply with the provisions of the lease or the Landlord/Tenant Act, although he has been given adequate notice of the problem or violation by the tenant, the tenant may initiate proceedings to terminate the lease (KRS 383.625). First, the tenant must deliver written notice to the landlord describing the landlord's act of noncompliance and stating that he will terminate the lease after thirty days if the situation described is not remedied within fourteen days. If the landlord either makes the necessary repairs or pays damage within the allotted time, the rental agreement may not be terminated. If the landlord fails to comply with the notice, however, and causes the tenant to move, the landlord must return all prepaid rent.
If the landlord again fails to comply with the lease or with the law within six months, the tenant has the same rights as before but may terminate the lease after fourteen days' written notice rather than thirty days. The tenant does not have these privileges, however, if the problem has been caused by his or his guests' negligence or misuse (KRS 383.635).

You are supposed to be able to reach your landlord, that's incuded in the lease/tenant's rights as well. And by reach, I don't mean an answering machine...

Finally, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Send certified letters and keep the receipts. Note the days you called and keep those phone bills.
Hope this helps!

Go to your local discount store (Wal-Mart) or Home Depot, and by the bug spray your do yourself, have your husband spray your sons room one day when you are going to be gone most of the day, send the receipt with your next rent payment with that much deducted. Write a letter (and keep a copy) to your landlord and note how many times you have tried to reach them. There should be a local agency where you can report landlords who don't do what they are supposed to. Keep a copy of your letter and your receipt to send to the agency if the Landlord gives you a hard time. I does make an expense come out of your pocket, but protecting your child should come first.

I am not sure what to do about the landlord other than let him know that until he contacts you to discuss the problem your family is having, that you will not pay your next months rent. I am not sure if you are within your rights at a tenant to do so or not . I also don't want my advice to create any unnecessary problems for you. I do recomend that if you are unable to get in touch with him that you should probably spray for bugs yourself as well as steam clean your carpets. I understand that this is a problem you feel the landlord should take care of but since you are at your witts end and your child is being bitten now, I would go on and fix it and save your receipts and give them to the landlord and ask him to repay you what you had to spend or deduct it from your rent. Check in your area who to speak to , in order to see what your rights are as a tenant as well as refer to your lease. Good luck.

A.,

Most states have a Landlord/Tenant Act which requires your landlord to give you what I think is termed a 'habital place to live'. I would see if you can get a copy of that and find out what your course of action is - you may be able to report them if they are not living up to their end of the law.

good luck!

Unless your lease has something about pest control you are the one responsible. We owned several houses in Florida when we lived there and rented out 2 of them. It was always in our lease that we didn't provide pest control for the renters. While we did have termite control once a year that was it. I am sorry you are having problems and hope your lease is different that what we used. Otherwise I suggest calling a Pest Control Company that does not make you sign a contract that is longer than your lease agreement. Good Luck!

I don't think I've ever had bed bugs but I read that you should put your pillows in the freezer occasionally for a few hours. This freezes them and then fluff them in the dryer or beat them outside.

Sounds like you could break the lease, if there are bugs and they won't fumigate. Get a couple of bombs and stay out for the day, or the allotted time they say. Sounds like it could be fleas too. I question bedbugs if he has a plastic mattress cover. The bugs are getting in somehow and that place needs to be sealed. Good luck.

I own a carpet cleaning company (Nola Carpet Cleaning) and you can find us online at www.nolacarpetcleaning.com and I have seen many people with bed bugs and I have found that Paramount Pest Management can absolutely solve the problem. Mikel Lollar is the owner and they can be found online.

A.
Have you checked your son's head for lice? Lice like to bite around the neck and shoulder area, especially at night. They are very hard to detect, and sometimes aren't noticed until the second generation has matured. My poor daughter had bites around her neck so bad that her lymph nodes were swollen where she scratched so much. At the time, I did not realize that is what was causing the problem. I even took her to the pediatrician.
With you son being so young, I would consult your pediatrician before you start adding pesticides to his environment, perhaps unnecessarily.
Also, make sure it is not a food allergy, sensitivity to a new soap or detergent, medicine, or a heat rash.
When I was little, cantaloupe was the only food I was allergic to and I broke out into a rash.

as far as the bed bugs i'd get a sprayer and spray myself if the landlord isnt avalable and spray carpet curtains bacebords as well as the mattress just for your own protection.then i'd look for a new appartment and if you have to stay where you are when the landlord comes wanting the rent i'd tell him eather spray the apartment oryou will turn him in to the health department as a health hazzard.they could make him do it or you might not have to pay your rent.

Fleas LOVE soft, tender skin. You don't see them much, but if the bites on adults are around the ankles and calves, I'd say it IS fleas.

If they 'bomb' your place, put all your food and small kitchen appliances (mixer, toaster, etc) in garbage bags. Turn off your air conditioner(s) so the fumes won't get circulated through them. If you have pet fish, the tanks need to be covered, and you'll probably need to leave the premises for a few hours, minimum. Hope this helps (and hope they conquer the pests ASAP)!

A.,
If you live in the city of charlotte, call 311 and report to have a city inspector come out to your house to do an inspection. I am a city inspector so trust me on this. An inspector should contact you with in 3 days of the call. if you have any other questions let me know. don't worry the'll get in touch with your landlord and he'll have to correst that and any other problem with the house. You might want to leave the landlord a message first that he does not contact you, you will have no other option but to contact the city.

I bet if you called and told him that you were going to use the rent money to call an exterminator in to control the bed bugs,he would return the call.You could also call your local health department and get a solution to the problem.Do not back down from this guy.He sounds like a slumlord not a landlord.Good luck to you!GM