Bed Bugs

[JenniSam]

What is the name of your state? MI

For the first time in 10 years, we have gotten a complaint about bed bugs.

Previous tenants paid for the month but moved out without notice 3 days into their billing cycle. We found out that they moved after the property had been vacant for a month.

We quickly had the home cleaned and placed new tenants who had an emergent need and found themselves homeless. Lease started on April 1 (today) but we allowed them to move in a few days early free of charge. The day after they moved in (on the 30th), they contacted us saying they found bed bugs.

I contacted the previous tenant immediately who confirmed that yes they had a bed bug issue. Says they never told us because the lease states they are responsible for pest control, which I will change immediately to now state that it is required that they still notify us.

Had I known, I would have never placed tenants in that home prior to having the situation resolved.

Steps we've taken so far:

Contracted an exterminator but cannot come out until Thursday 4/2/2020
Placing tenants in an hotel
Paying for extra storage time since they had not moved everything in (no beds, dressers, etc have been moved in)

Here is my dilemma and question:

Some of my partners disagree on further assistance. Tenants have now found them in the clothes they had there. Tenants are asking to have belongings cleaned. Some partners say ok and others say no and tenants should have renters insurance for that. Should tenants be responsible for this?

 

[Just Blue]

https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/insect-control/wash-bed-bugs-out-of-clothes.htm

Personally I would give the tenants a few (5 or 6 depending on how much laundry needs to be done) rolls of quarters so they can take their clothing to the laundromat to clean. I would also provide cab fare if they don't have a car.

I might also file a suit against the ex tenant who caused the problem, to recover the cost.

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state? MI

For the first time in 10 years, we have gotten a complaint about bed bugs.

Previous tenants paid for the month but moved out without notice 3 days into their billing cycle. We found out that they moved after the property had been vacant for a month.

We quickly had the home cleaned and placed new tenants who had an emergent need and found themselves homeless. Lease started on April 1 (today) but we allowed them to move in a few days early free of charge. The day after they moved in (on the 30th), they contacted us saying they found bed bugs.

I contacted the previous tenant immediately who confirmed that yes they had a bed bug issue. Says they never told us because the lease states they are responsible for pest control, which I will change immediately to now state that it is required that they still notify us.

Had I known, I would have never placed tenants in that home prior to having the situation resolved.

Steps we've taken so far:

Contracted an exterminator but cannot come out until Thursday 4/2/2020
Placing tenants in an hotel
Paying for extra storage time since they had not moved everything in (no beds, dressers, etc have been moved in)

Here is my dilemma and question:

Some of my partners disagree on further assistance. Tenants have now found them in the clothes they had there. Tenants are asking to have belongings cleaned. Some partners say ok and others say no and tenants should have renters insurance for that. Should tenants be responsible for this?

Three cities in Michigan have made Orkin’s 2020 50-City list of most bedbug infested cities in the country (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint). There has been a substantial increase of reports of bedbugs in Flint (which, if memory serves, is where you said you had a rental).

The problem in trying to hold tenants responsible for a bedbug infestation is that the bedbugs could have come from various sources (e.g., moving vans, furniture purchases, failure to clean rental properly between tenants ...).

Renters insurance could be helpful if the tenants are actually insured. Many aren’t. The decision on what you as property owner should do for your new tenants, however, is really up to you.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state? MI

For the first time in 10 years, we have gotten a complaint about bed bugs.

Previous tenants paid for the month but moved out without notice 3 days into their billing cycle. We found out that they moved after the property had been vacant for a month.

We quickly had the home cleaned and placed new tenants who had an emergent need and found themselves homeless. Lease started on April 1 (today) but we allowed them to move in a few days early free of charge. The day after they moved in (on the 30th), they contacted us saying they found bed bugs.

I contacted the previous tenant immediately who confirmed that yes they had a bed bug issue. Says they never told us because the lease states they are responsible for pest control, which I will change immediately to now state that it is required that they still notify us.

Had I known, I would have never placed tenants in that home prior to having the situation resolved.

Steps we've taken so far:

Contracted an exterminator but cannot come out until Thursday 4/2/2020
Placing tenants in an hotel
Paying for extra storage time since they had not moved everything in (no beds, dressers, etc have been moved in)

Here is my dilemma and question:

Some of my partners disagree on further assistance. Tenants have now found them in the clothes they had there. Tenants are asking to have belongings cleaned. Some partners say ok and others say no and tenants should have renters insurance for that. Should tenants be responsible for this?

The clothes do not need to be professionally cleaned. They just need to be washed in hot water.

 

[advocatesdenverco]

You did the right thing in arranging the new tenant with their accommodation, I think better signed a contract with the new tenant and discuss the maintenance and should be part of the said contract.

 

[quincy]

You did the right thing in arranging the new tenant with their accommodation, I think better signed a contract with the new tenant and discuss the maintenance and should be part of the said contract.

Huh?

 

[FarmerJ]

LTNS Jennisam so follow what the exterminator says to get rid of them from the structure then keep treating until they are gone and once they are gone if the tenant gets them a second time then you may well have to make them pay , as far as in-between vacancies I suggest you consider having the exterminator come out during every vacancy and treat the place and then with new tenants include in the lease that you had XYZ exterminator out as a preventative measure and if they in the course of day to day living bring them in to the house you are not responsible for treatment SO on a serious note im wondering if you can require tenants to pre pay for treatment (so its not part of your deposit ) and out of reach from your states damage deposit laws and then include in your lease that when they give notice they must arrange for your exterminator to come out and inspect and if there are none found you will reimburse them for the pre paid treatment ?

 

[quincy]

LTNS Jennisam so follow what the exterminator says to get rid of them from the structure then keep treating until they are gone and once they are gone if the tenant gets them a second time then you may well have to make them pay , as far as in-between vacancies I suggest you consider having the exterminator come out during every vacancy and treat the place and then with new tenants include in the lease that you had XYZ exterminator out as a preventative measure and if they in the course of day to day living bring them in to the house you are not responsible for treatment SO on a serious note im wondering if you can require tenants to pre pay for treatment (so its not part of your deposit ) and out of reach from your states damage deposit laws and then include in your lease that when they give notice they must arrange for your exterminator to come out and inspect and if there are none found you will reimburse them for the pre paid treatment ?

I think your suggestion, FarmerJ, is one good way to not have anyone renting the place.

 

[LdiJ]

I think your suggestion, FarmerJ, is one good way to not have anyone renting the place.

I agree, and I will also say that the actual professional cost of treating for bed bugs is so expensive that most landlords could not possibly afford to do it between every tenant, unless they were lucky enough to mostly have tenants that stay for many years. Around here its about $2500.00.

However, I will give a home remedy treatment that really works and would cost little if done while the unit is empty...

Several bottles of 90% isopropol alcohol, a spray bottle, a face mask (for the fumes)...spraying down the carpets well, with an extra concentration on the baseboards. The alcohol kills the bugs, eggs and larva.

 

[FarmerJ]

I had No idea bed bug treatment could be so expensive , So once you are rid of them jennisam perhaps you should make it part of how you run your business that you treat between tenants even if your doing it your self .

 

[quincy]

Here, from the Michigan Department of Community Health, is a Michigan fact sheet on bedbugs and bedbug treatment:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDCH_Bedbugs_Factsheet_165671_7.pdf

 

[stealth2]

The clothes do not need to be professionally cleaned. They just need to be washed in hot water.

Assuming they can be laundered...

 

[quincy]

Assuming they can be laundered...

I am not sure a dry cleaner would be happy to get a bunch of bedbug-infested clothes ... so home treatment is probably necessary.