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Are You Screening Your New Tenants for Bedbugs?

By
Commercial Real Estate Agent with American Apartment Owners Association

Landlord Liability Expanding As Bedbugs Continue to Thrive in Apartments

The liability for bedbugs has burgeoned even in the time since we first published Bedbugs are Back and Spawning Lawsuits

The Helmsely Hotel in New York City was one of the first businesses to feel the sting of bedbug lawsuits. 

But now, as these insidious biting creatures find their way from apartment house to apartment house riding in suitcases, furniture and clothing, new avenues of liability for landlords are emerging, including:  

 

  • New tenants who bring bedbugs to the building  

  • Old tenants who bring the problem to the new landlord  

  • Employees and vendors who bring the nuisance to other apartments, and their own homes

Have You Screened Your New Tenants For Bedbugs?  Read more. 

American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services related to your commercial housing investment including REAL ESTATE FORMS, tenant debt collection, tenant background checks, insurance and financing. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.

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Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

HOW would one approach the screening process? Can I see your stuff? Can I check your mattress?

Jan 15, 2009 04:59 AM
Anonymous
Kim/AAOA

Hi Leslie,

The trick is to find out if they have ever lived in a building or unit that was infested, whether it was treated before they moved, and how it was treated to determine if their furniture may be a risk. A landlord had to settle a case where the tenant moved out of the infested unit and a new tenant was allowed to move in before it was treated. The new tenant got bitten and hired a lawyer.  The lawyer contacted the old tenant and confirmed that they had reported the bedbugs.  In the course of that investigation, the second landlord found out that the old tenant had moved in with bedbugs in the furniture, and now wants to hold the old landlord responsible for those costs, too.  The trouble is getting rid of them when the residents are mobile - these bugs can stay dormant for months and require a lot of follow up pest control.  Gets very expensive!    

Jan 15, 2009 06:09 AM
#2
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

Many of our tenants come from other states, almost all from other towns. If I call a Landlord to check on a rental reference, and I ask if they have had bedbugs I'm going to piss them off royal AND they probably wouldn't tell me if they HAD. I have seen stories on TV about how awful the clean up is, I just don't see how I could screen for them.

Jan 16, 2009 05:25 AM
Anonymous
Shazia

I am very glad to see these useful information.

 

Regard

http://www.propertycyprussales.com

Feb 17, 2009 01:28 AM
#4