Bed Bugs in a Detroit Rental - Who is responsible ?

[Saul L.]

Just reaching out to all the more experienced landlords out there- One of my Detroit tenants has submitted a complaint of bed bug infestation in all her furniture.

In your opinion,- is this the owners responsibility. Are we required to handle this by a city by-law or other law ?

My PM is informing me that I have to foot the bill- but it sounds kind of strange as the furniture is not mine. 

Any help or shared experience really appreciated.

[Jeff Rabinowitz]

Tighten up your lease. (This should be covered in your property manager's lease.) There should be a clause covering insect infestations in it stating that if nothing is reported within the first couple weeks of the tenant moving in the tenant is responsible for the extermination. This is not a City law but you will probably not prevail in a Detroit courtroom unless you can prove that you exterminated and the house was free of bedbugs when the tenant moved in.