Bedbugs in FourPlex - Who Pays?

Question

John C. · Answer

How long has the tenant been in residence?

Bedbugs are not like roaches. They don't just magically "appear". If I give a tenant a clean and habitable residence as defined under Georgia law and they introduce bedbugs after they have moved in then it is their responsibility.

What I have done is have my pest control company come out and evaluate.  If the tenant has been there for a while and just "discovered" bedbugs after bringing in some used furniture that they purchased off of craigslist, etc then I get the tenant to pay.

Either way take care of it as they will spread to they will spread to other units if the problem is not addressed quickly.

Clay Smith · Answer

Yes, a landlord must deal with infestations unless you signed away your rights.  Even if you did, I would imagine an attorney would overrule in the case of a multifamily unit.  I personally do not carry a lease that puts infestations back on the tenant.  I do require that tenants are clean and take care of the place.  If a tenant is living like a slob and contributing to mice, rats, cockroaches, etc. I empower my property manager to evict them.  If your landlord requires proof then offer to pay the bill (get quote first) for an inspection costing $xxx.xx in return that if found, it will be deducted from the rent.  Put it in writing or record the phone call (inform them you are recording) and order the inspection.

Michael Seeker · Answer

@Mark S.

For a 4-plex the landlord should have the whole building treated.  Just because your g/f was the first person to report it doesn't mean that she was the cause or that her apt is the only one affected.  Now, this is how a smart/good landlord would handle it.  Unfortunately I don't know what the law states in KY.  If there is no clause in the lease covering such a situation, I would think it would fall into the responsibility of the landlord to provide a clean, habitable living space.  You should definitely consult an attorney if the landlord is not prepared to cover the cost unless he/she can somehow prove how the infestation occurred.

Tapan Trivedi · Answer

If I was the landlord I would eat it once and then put a clause saying if it happens again we share. A good lease should have this in it already. Good question though.

Tapan Trivedi

Sacramento - where the Bay Area goes to Cash Flow.

Dawn Anastasi · Answer

If there are bedbugs in one unit, there may be bed bugs in adjoining units.  The smart thing for the landlord to do would be to schedule time to visit every unit to check them out.  If you just treat one unit, bed bugs in another unit can just come crawling on back.