Bedbugs have taken over Paris... so what if they ‘take over’ a rental property?
Paris has been engulfed by an infestation of bedbugs with authorities warning “no one is safe” … and that includes us in the UK! How can landlords support tenants when there is an infestation and who is responsible to get rid of them?
What are bedbugs?
Bedbugs are insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. Adult bedbugs are reddish-brown, wingless, and about the size of an apple seed. They are flat with oval-shaped bodies. Young bedbugs, or nymphs, are smaller and can appear translucent or yellowish in colour. If nymphs have not been recently fed, due to their colouring, they can be almost impossible to spot. Bedbug eggs are tiny and white.
As they are so small it’s easy for them to get into a home without anyone noticing. Thankfully they don’t spread harmful diseases, however, they’re a nuisance to live with and can be difficult to remove (they can live for up to six months without food and may not be noticed until there is a full infestation).
How do you know if there is an infestation?
Bedbugs are incredibly small and are only active at night so they can be hard to spot. It can therefore be easier to spot the signs of bedbugs. The NHS lists the following signs of bed bugs as:
· Small and itchy bites on exposed skin, such as the face, neck, or arms
· Spots of blood on bedding (from squashing the bug)
· Small brown spots or stains on bedding or furniture
It is also difficult as bed bugs often live in fabric, such as furniture and bedding, but can also hide under pictures, loose wallpaper, or even be on seats of buses or trains.
Who is responsible?
It can sometimes be tricky to determine who is responsible. But ultimately you want to determine who brought the bed bugs in – were they there when the tenant moved in or has the tenant bought them in?
A landlord’s responsibility is to ensure a property is suitable for a tenant to live. If a landlord lets a property that already has bed bugs, a tenant is well in their right to ask for the landlord to deal with the issue and remove them. This means that landlords are responsible for getting rid of bed bugs before a tenant moves in.
If the landlord is responsible for the issue, they should do all the necessary repairs and arrange a visit from pest control. If the landlord does not solve the issue, a tenant can seek further advice from the council.
When is the tenant responsible for removing bed bugs?
If a tenant has been in a property for a long period of time, it is likely that they have introduced the bed bugs themselves - whether the bugs were accidentally carried on suitcases/luggage or brought in by a guest. It is therefore a tenant’s responsibility to pay for pest control and removal.
In all cases, the tenant should notify the landlord as soon as possible, in order to assess who will sort the problem and to keep an open dialogue on how they will be removed.
How can letting agents and landlords help tenants
It’s good to get in the habit of regularly communicating to tenants the ways for them to stay safe and protected. Encourage tenants to:
· Wash bedding and clothes on a hot wash (at least 60 degrees Celsius) and tumble dry on a hot setting for 30 minutes
· Put affected clothes and bedding in the freezer for a few hours before washing
· Clean and vacuum frequently, and then tip out the vacuum quickly. (Bed bugs can live in the vacuum dust quite happily and escape).
· Not keep clutter around the bed
· Check all second-hand furniture before bringing into the home
· Don’t take clothes/luggage indoors if they came from somewhere with bed bugs
Given the current situation in Paris we would suggest contacting your tenants and highlighting what to look out for and the preventative measures they can take.
We have contacted all our tenants in our managed properties, so our Landlords don't need to worry. If you manage your own tenancy, have you?!
We are here and ready to help should you have any tenancy related queries.