MANAGEMENTPROPERTYB E D B U G S I ND E A L I N G W I T H

From public housing in lower income areas to highrise condos in metropolitan cities and assisted living facilities for the elderly, property managers have a big responsibility when it comes to keeping tenants safe from all kinds of harm. In the last 10 years, bed bug infestations have become a serious problem in housing throughout the country. This blog post will cover some of the most important issues regarding bed bugs in property management including guidelines and best practices.

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet when it comes to eliminating bed bugs. But that does not suggest there is any room for a lackadaisical approach to meeting the bed bug challenge.

A bed bug outbreak in a single unit of an apartment complex can quickly become a larger issue if left unaddressed. Bed bugs have a way of traveling and will quickly infest neighboring units. That’s why bed bug prevention and control are imperative in property management.

Should a tenant report bed bugs, the property management should respond within a 24-hour period to discuss measures the tenant can take to control the infestation before a professional inspection can be scheduled. Property managers may not charge a tenant for the cost of bed bug treatment. Those costs must be covered by the property owner.

Bed bug in property management success stories typically involve tenants, management and pest control professionals working together to battle the issue. With this in mind, here are some ways property managers can prevent and control bed bug infestations from taking hold in their properties.

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DEALING WITH BED BUGSIN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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Should a tenant report bed bugs, the property management should respond within a 24-hour period to discuss measures the tenant can take to control the infestation before a professional inspection can be scheduled. Property managers may not charge a tenant for the cost of bed bug treatment. Those costs must be covered by the property owner.

Tenants should be encouraged to immediately report any suspicion of bed bugs in their unit or common areas. Upon reporting the sighting of bed bugs, a tenant should expect a quick response and attention by the property managers. If possible, an inspection by a professional should occur within three days of the tenant making the report.

In accordance with the lease, the tenant must allow trained sta� or a third-party exterminator company to enter their unit to perform an inspection and necessary treatment. This treatment must start within �ve days should bed bugs be found.

Tenants should also be advised of the expected time line. Generally speaking, it takes several weeks for treatment to be fully e�ective. During this time, tenants are expected to cooperate with management and follow guidelines properly. This means using cold or heat treatment on items of bedding and clothing, and also refraining from placing any infested furniture in common areas such as hallways.

While the tenant is not expected to cover the costs of professional inspections and extermination treatments, they will not be reimbursed for any personal expenses, such as the purchase of new furniture, clothing or bedding. And �nally, a property housing authority may not deny tenancy to a potential resident because of their involvement in a prior bed bug infestation.

TENANT RIGHTSAND RESPONSIBILITIES

Bed Bug PreventionIt goes without saying that the best bed bug management strategy is to prevent an infestation from occurring in the �rst place. According to federal agencies such as EPA and HUD, the following are recommended guidelines for bed bug preven-tion:

EducationSince prevention and control of bed bugs is a team e�ort, it makes sense to raise awareness of the issue by educating tenants on the devastation of an infestation and ways to prevent one. You may want to consider holding workshops for tenants and building sta� so they can learn how to identify bed bugs and also the clues they leave behind when they take residence. Other important pieces of information to share are how to create unfriendly environments for bed bugs, the importance of checking luggage and clothes thoroughly when returning home from a trip, and also checking for any signs of bed bugs before bringing secondhand items home. It’s a good idea to post signs and provide handouts to tenants and sta� regarding bed bug prevention.

Reduce ClutterBed bugs love to tuck themselves away and can easily go unnoticed in spaces that are very cluttered. It’s important to eliminate as much clutter in common areas and in single units as possible.

Encourage ‘Buy-in’It’s important to get your tenants to take an active role in bed bug prevention so that they will not only keep an eye out for signs of an infestation, but also bring it to your attention. In inner cities, and particularly in lower income public housing where there may be tenants who do not speak English, you may need to provide educational materials in other languages.

Bed Bug ControlEven the best prevention methods may not safeguard your property 100% from a potential bed bug infestation. Here are some ways property managers, pets control professionals and tenants can get an infestation under control and keep it under control:

Visual InspectionsIt’s important that the level of bed bug infestation is determined as quickly as possible. While you don’t need to locate every single bed big to have an e�ective treatment plan, you will need to look for bed bugs in various locations to understand site-speci�c limitations and preparation needs. You will need to alert tenants that inspections will be happening. Make sure inspections occur during hours that someone will be home to let the pest control professionals inside each unit. The importance of visual inspections cannot be stressed enough. Early detection and a prompt response will be the most time- and cost-e�ective solutions for bed bugs in property management.

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PREVENTIONAND CONTROL

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Non-Chemical Treatment MethodsWhile fumigation is widely used to treat bed bug infestations, there are also non-chemical treatment methods that are safe and e�ective.

• Heat treatment – Oftentimes washing bedding and clothing in hot water and then drying them on high heat will kill the little buggers.

• Cold treatment – Cold treatment has also been shown to work, but the freezer must be set to 0 F to be successful. Also, the items of clothing or bedding must be left in the freezer for at least four days. Once you place your items in the freezer, leave it alone and keep the door shut.

• Steam cleaning – Both wet and dry steam cleaning has been shown to be very e�ective at penetrating cracks, fabrics, carpeting, baseboards, bed frames, and other furniture. The key to having steam cleaning work is to set the tempera-ture to at least 130 F. Be sure there is no forceful air�ow (use a di�user) or it may cause bed bugs to scatter.

Bed Bug MonitorsBed bug monitors have become a game changer in the �ght against infestations. Monitors can help property managers and professional exterminators identify pest problems early.

There are currently di�erent bed bug monitors on the market. Some cost as low as $5 while others cost as much as $1,000. As with just about anything in life, you get what you pay for.

Some monitors actually contain a bed bug blood meal lure. Some of the more expensive monitors use a CO2 source to imitate human breathing to attract the bed bugs. And still others use a sticky attractant in a trap that can be placed under the bed. As we’ve already mentioned, early detection is the di�erence between a costly infestation and one that is resolved quickly.

NON-CHEMICALTREATMENT METHODS

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Bed bugs in property management is not an issue to take lightly. By taking

preventative measures and havingtenants, management and pest control professionals work together, bed buginfestations can be limited, reducingoperational costs and making for a

healthier living and working environment for everyone.