Bed bugs in rental property

Electra_101

If it was £120 sgun I would happily pay it. Indeed I have spent over £200 already on what I was informed would be an effective treatment. Over a grand is a little bit more than that! I am aware that you don't have to be "dirty" to get bed bugs, but if you have clutter and are untidy its harder to get rid of them as they have more places to hide.

From what I have read they are likely to travel between flats and apartments, but less likely to move between separate houses, as they don't like light. So I'm pretty sure the tenants brought them in. The neighbours are elderly, and don't stay in hotels etc. They don't really have visitors either, so its really very unlikely to have come from next door

cherylsurrey

Many years ago now I bought them back to my home after a stay in a hotel, they must have hitched a lift in my suitcase.


My advice to you is, pick a company that specialises in treating bed bugs, there are plenty around now as it is such a big problem, it took 2 treatments to get rid of mine despite the fact I live in an old house with bare floor boards and plenty of nooks and crannies for them to hide in. Do this rather than a general pest controller, who although are good, and some probably great at bed bugs, you really need an expert to get rid of them for good. It really does make a difference if you get specialist in.


Just google bed bugs treatment with your area, and lots of specialist firms will appear.

Electra_101

So a quick update on this ongoing problem with bed bugs.

We have employed a specialist bed bug company who have visited the property and performed a steam based treatment and ditaceous earth powder treatment. The tenants have been asked to monitor carefully for signs of bed bugs. They still think that they are being bitten though, but the specialist company think it might be a reaction the powder that the tenants used to try to treat the bugs.?? Apparently the tenants have made the problem worse by not following the specialist company's instructions....

And now the tenants are threatening to sue!!

[Deleted User]

The tenants can threaten what they like, you have done what you can to remove the bed bugs. There is no certainty that they are still around, they may have introduced them to the property, and they didn't follow the instructions they were given. (Have you got this in writing from the company you used.., can you get something from the previous company?)

However, I am afraid if the tenants aren't prepared to work as hard as I did to make sure the bed bugs were eradicated and stayed eradicated, or even comply with instructions you may have to wait until they are gone, get the company in again and get rid of them that way if they are still around.

Perhaps you could offer the tenants an early surrender of their tenancy? It might save money in the long run.

Unfortunately it only takes one egg to start it all off again. The powder should have helped but may not have been used in the right places if the tenants wouldn't comply.

The second infestation, my son had a rash all up his arms, I took him to the GP who said it was a rash, not bites. It was bites as I did find the infestation site in the end. There are so many 'experts' around with different ideas, it can be difficult to know who to believe.

csgohan4

Section 21?

Electra_101

deannatrois wrote: »

The tenants can threaten what they like, you have done what you can to remove the bed bugs. There is no certainty that they are still around, they may have introduced them to the property, and they didn't follow the instructions they were given. (Have you got this in writing from the company you used.., can you get something from the previous company?)

I have asked the letting agency that I use to get this information in writing from the beg bug company. I'm just really worried about being threatened with legal action...

However, I am afraid if the tenants aren't prepared to work as hard as I did to make sure the bed bugs were eradicated and stayed eradicated, or even comply with instructions you may have to wait until they are gone, get the company in again and get rid of them that way if they are still around.

Perhaps you could offer the tenants an early surrender of their tenancy? It might save money in the long run.

We have offered them an early surrender without penalty and return of their deposit. They have refused!?!?

Unfortunately it only takes one egg to start it all off again. The powder should have helped but may not have been used in the right places if the tenants wouldn't comply.

The second infestation, my son had a rash all up his arms, I took him to the GP who said it was a rash, not bites. It was bites as I did find the infestation site in the end. There are so many 'experts' around with different ideas, it can be difficult to know who to believe.

I am waiting to hear if they have been bitten again and will go from there I think. I'm keeping all of the evidence together just in case they try to claim we haven't tried to resolve the problem...