If you live in an apartment, it is critical that all units in the entire building get treated at the same time. If you have bed bugs, chances are, others in your building do too.
Treating one unit in isolation will not solve the problem. In fact, the bugs will likely scatter to adjoining units, and spread throughout the building. Hell, they probably originally came to your apartment from your neighbor’s place. Laws vary by city, but in many cases, if you rent your apartment, the landlord has a legal obligation to clear the building of bed bugs. Contact your city government or tenants’ rights organization for specific advice. Alternatively, most cities have a legal aid society that provides legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer. They will be able to advise you of your rights. If you live in New York, the city’s housing and maintenance code specifically mentions bed bugs; your landlord must eradicate the infestation. Contact your landlord or management company and inform them of the problem. If your landlord does nothing, or tries some half-baked self-treatment plan, call the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (call 311) to file a complaint. Or call the hotline of the Metropolitan Council on Housing (212-979-0611, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 1:30-5 p.m.) for advice. The Met Council is a nonprofit renters-rights and advocacy organization in NYC. Other cities have similar laws requiring landlords to ensure that apartments are free of insect infestations. If you are a renter, the law is generally on your side. If you live in a condo or co-op, the situation is trickier. Contact your condo or co-op board, and come up with a plan for treating the whole building. Sorry, but anything less will not work.
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