Bed bugs are ever happening phenomenon, and it has a lot to do with the favorable climate conditions and people who travel frequently; they are more common in hotels and travel destinations, but your household is not safe from them; they either spread with the travelers by hop from one place to another.
According to the National Pest Management Association, bed bugs are more prevalent in less airy places like single-family homes, studio apartments, condominiums, hotels, and motel rooms. Similarly, the summer season is the most crucial for bed bugs; the main reason is the increase in travel, people frequently travel, students returning home, and the weather is ideal for them to flourish.
Suppose you are shifting to a new place, or your existing place is infested with bed bugs. In that case, your standard renter's insurance does not cover bed bugs. Still, you can have other options too to handle the situation.
Does Renters Insurance Cover Bedbugs?
Treating bad bugs in your home or living place costs you from $300 to $5000; the price varies as per the size of your house. Unfortunately, your renter's insurance doesn't cover it, and most tenants cannot handle it.
The standard renter's insurance doesn't cover bed bug infestations, but exceptions are always there. Renters' insurance only covers sudden or unexpected situations or damages, such as hurricanes, fires, etc. Bed bugs come under the house maintenance category; most insurance policies don't cover them.
Bed bug extermination and things that are badly infested with them, for example, mattresses, etc., are not covered in it; however, if you want to have bed bug coverage, you need to include additional Bed Bug treatment in your insurance policy.
Bed bugs extermination is available for renters insurance, landlords, and property managers. Still, it is mostly available for the owners than the tenants.
Is Bed bug removal your Landlord's responsibility?
It depends on the building type and location; in many cases, it's your Landlord's responsibility to remove bed bugs. However, the most appropriate way to check it is by reading your lease agreement and seeing whose responsibility is to remove bugs from the place.
For better understanding, let's consider an example of a multifamily rental place with assistance from Housing and Urban Development; it is most obvious that your Landlord is responsible for the extermination of bed bugs unless your negligence does not cause it.
Tenant Rights
As a tenant, you have certain rights under the legality or warranty of habitability. It implies that your Landlord is responsible for providing the basic standard housing facilities, including heat, sound structure, clean drinking water, and a bug-free place.
But at the same time, it also implies that there is no guarantee that your Landlord will pay to remove your bedbugs; if it is evident that they spread by you, then you have to bear the cost or extermination bill all by yourself.
Suppose you have been living in the place for a long time. During that time, you don't face any bed bug situations. Still, a recent return from overseas vacation causes bed bugs; you have to clean and remove the bed bug from the place yourself.
Bedbug Laws
Some states in the US regulate bed bug removal to keep the house and living places; in Colorado, it is the responsibility of the Landlord to pay for the removal of bed bugs. Tenants, on the other hand, bear the cost of moving and relocating their belongings.
Similarly, in Florida, the Landlord is responsible for exterminating bed bugs and other pest controls in the rental units except in single-family homes or duplexes. It is better to check your state or locality laws to know whether it's the Landlord's responsibility to remove or exterminate beg bug and pay the bills.
In any state where these laws are implemented, the tenants promptly report any bed bug situation to Landlord and cooperate with the exterminator requirements; leaving the building or evacuating the place can be one of them.
It's also the responsibility of the Landlord to inform the tenants and provides them a one to two-day notice period when the bed bug report arrives. If, for some reason, your Landlord refuses to take necessary action and pay for the extermination, then consult with the lawyer in this regard.
How to Remove Bed bugs From your Place
As per the US Environmental Protection Agency, a few tactics help remove bed bugs from your place. Below are these tactics or steps that are advisable to eliminate bed bugs.
- Vacuum your place thoroughly, looking into small places or corners; once you are done vacuuming your place, empty the container and dispose of it outdoors.
- Move or place your bed away from the walls as much as possible; your bedding shouldn't touch the floor.
- Look for the smallest place, especially clean cluttered places, and fill the wall cracks to eliminate the bugs' hiding places.
- Cover your mattress with a bed bug-proof casing.
- Seal the infested items in a plastic bag and empty them in a dryer; run at high temperatures for at least thirty minutes.
- Place bedbug interceptors under the legs of your furniture, especially under your bed.
- Fill the hiding places of bed bugs, like cracks in baseboards, electrical outlets, etc., with caulk.
Final Thoughts
Bedbugs are bad for your living place; although they are not fatal for your health, they cause itching and reddishness of the skin, which may lead to a constant rash and itchiness. Similarly, not preventing or delaying taking necessary measures can widespread bedbugs all over your place.
The cost is relatively higher for bed bug removal; your rental insurance adds on may cover the cost of bedbug removal. You can also check your state laws to see whether it's the responsibility of your Landlord to bear all the expenses.
