Bedbugs... landlord or tenants' responsibility?

[Zigner]

If the cost is going to be too much, what would my options be for removing the tenants first? They are currently behind on rent and utilities... and probably several other lease violations. Could I evict?

I suggest that you do one of three things.
1: Read up on (and actually learn) what it takes to be a successful landlord. This would include joining a landlord association.
2: If you choose not to do (1), then you should hire a professional property manager.
3: If you choose to do neither (1) nor (2), then you should sell the property and get out of the business of landlording.

Or, to be nice could I offer to help pay for a new apartment, but give them a set time frame to find one, say 30 or 60 days?

If you do this, then it's clear that you're not a professional landlord, rather, you're a chump.

 

[quincy]

If the cost is going to be too much, what would my options be for removing the tenants first? They are currently behind on rent and utilities... and probably several other lease violations. Could I evict?

Or, to be nice could I offer to help pay for a new apartment, but give them a set time frame to find one, say 30 or 60 days?

No, that expired at the end of May. Would evicting now be deemed "retaliatory"?

Eviction would be reasonable and warranted if rent is past due and your tenants have violated other lease provisions.

Providing an incentive to your tenants so they move out quickly can be a good idea - but an eviction is smarter than providing monetary incentive to move and then allowing the tenants to stay for 30-60 days.

 

[Princeofdorkness]

Yes, I know what most landlords(and some others) are going to say about being nice to tenants. I actually am planning to sell the property and invest in something else. But, I need to resolve this situation now. If aiding them in getting out quickly will be significantly cheaper than the exterminator bill, I can take care of the bedbugs myself later. I just need to know if it is good to go legally to do so.

 

[xylene]

I can take care of the bedbugs myself later.

Are you a licensed PCO?

Because, blunt;y, I think you are overestimating your ability to do that as much as you are overestimating your profieincy as a landlord.

 

[quincy]

Yes, I know what most landlords(and some others) are going to say about being nice to tenants. I actually am planning to sell the property and invest in something else. But, I need to resolve this situation now. If aiding them in getting out quickly will be significantly cheaper than the exterminator bill, I can take care of the bedbugs myself later. I just need to know if it is good to go legally to do so.

It appears that eviction in the situation you describe would be legal. Follow exactly the process for eviction for your state.

There is nothing wrong with being a nice landlord, by the way. It of course helps when you are not strapped for cash yourself.

I think if you can give your tenants the option of moving quickly to avoid eviction, that can help them and that can help you in trying to get rid of the bedbugs, easier to do when the house is empty.

Good luck.

 

[Princeofdorkness]

I've eradicated bedbugs from my own house. Regardless, I'd much rather take care of it without tenants in the house. And, the only ones judging my "proficiency" or any such thing is you. I'd appreciate it if any of you who have an opinion, other than legal, keep it to yourself.

Thanks, quincy. I think I will give them some opportunity to be cooperative. But, if they don't I will evict.

 

[quincy]

I've eradicated bedbugs from my own house. Regardless, I'd much rather take care of it without tenants in the house. And, the only ones judging my "proficiency" or any such thing is you. I'd appreciate it if any of you who have an opinion, other than legal, keep it to yourself.

Thanks, quincy. I think I will give them some opportunity to be cooperative. But, if they don't I will evict.

Here is a link to the law on terminating a tenancy in Wisconsin:

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/704/17

Good luck.

 

[xylene]

I'd appreciate it if any of you who have an opinion, other than legal, keep it to yourself.

Both are legal opinions. You don't know what you are doing as a landlord and unless you are a licensed PCO you aren't legally allowed to apply pesticides in a rental unit, let alone claim it is fit for occupancy.

If you aren't a licensed PCO and you are applying suitable pesticides to a residential rental property, then you are an illegal user of pesticides and quite plainly breaking the law, unoccupied or not.

Being willing to risk poisoning your own home is quiet a different thing compared to a home you intend to rent or market for sale as a fit to rent.

If you claim you are doing this with consumer grade pesticide according to their label, you are simply a fibber.

 

[reenzz]

If the cost is going to be too much, what would my options be for removing the tenants first? They are currently behind on rent and utilities... and probably several other lease violations. Could I evict?

Or, to be nice could I offer to help pay for a new apartment, but give them a set time frame to find one, say 30 or 60 days?

Evict them for failing to pay rent /utilities.

 

[LdiJ]

Hello. I am the landlord. The tenants have been renting my single family house in Green Bay, WI for three years. Suddenly, they have a bedbug problem and are expecting me to pay for an exterminator. Recently, I saw an old mattress outside by the garbage cans. I think it is fairly obvious that they got a new mattress and that is the cause of the bedbug problem. How can I make sure that they take responsibility for the exterminator bill? Or, is it on me regardless of fault?

It is extremely unlikely that a new mattress is the cause of the bed bug problem. It is more likely that the new mattress was purchased because the old mattress became infected with bed bugs.

Since your tenants have lived there three years, its most likely that they inadvertently brought the bed bugs in from an outside source, its just that bringing in a new mattress is highly unlikely to be the outside source. Visiting a hotel that is infected with bed bugs or visiting another home infected with bed bugs is a far more likely source.

One way or another its going to end up being your problem...and it is an easier problem to solve if the home is empty. It's much more difficult to solve if the home is occupied. It is also not as simple as paying for an exterminator. Exterminators charge as much as $2500.00 to exterminate for bed bugs and its not a quick or easy proposition.

The reality of things is that your tenants are going to move out to get away from the bed bugs...and take the bed bugs to their new home if they don't just get rid of their furniture. Then you are going to be stuck with a property that has bed bugs. Yeah, you can keep their security deposit towards the cost of getting rid of the bed bugs but you will still be stuck with dealing with it.

 

[quincy]

It is extremely unlikely that a new mattress is the cause of the bed bug problem. It is more likely that the new mattress was purchased because the old mattress became infected with bed bugs.

Since your tenants have lived there three years, its most likely that they inadvertently brought the bed bugs in from an outside source, its just that bringing in a new mattress is highly unlikely to be the outside source. Visiting a hotel that is infected with bed bugs or visiting another home infected with bed bugs is a far more likely source.

One way or another its going to end up being your problem...and it is an easier problem to solve if the home is empty. It's much more difficult to solve if the home is occupied.

It can depend on from where the new mattress was purchased and how the new mattress was delivered to the house. Delivery trucks are a known means of travel for bed bugs.

Below is a link to a Dateline interview with a bedbug expert, provided on this forum before because bedbugs are a relatively common topic here:
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11915026/ns/dateline_nbc_dont_let_the_bed_bugs_bite/t/what-you-need-know-about-bed-bugs/

 

[LdiJ]

It can depend on from where the new mattress was purchased and how the new mattress was delivered to the house. Delivery trucks are a known means of travel for bed bugs.

I am going to disagree with you on that one Quincy. I agree that moving vans are known to be means of travel for bed bugs but not delivery vehicles. Delivery vehicles deal with new products and therefore aren't known vehicles for bed bug infestations, moving vans however are a different story.

 

[quincy]

I am going to disagree with you on that one Quincy. I agree that moving vans are known to be means of travel for bed bugs but not delivery vehicles. Delivery vehicles deal with new products and therefore aren't known vehicles for bed bug infestations, moving vans however are a different story.

I posted a link to an interview with a bedbug expert. You might have missed my edit.

 

[LdiJ]

I posted a link to an interview with a bedbug expert. You might have missed my edit.

That link doesn't change my opinion about delivery services....I also am not very impressed with that particular bedbug "expert".

Our home had a severe bed bug infestation about 7 years ago due to my daughter staying in an hotel for a vacation. The reality of things is that we had to get rid of almost all of our furniture, steam clean the carpets twice and then spray down the entire home with 90 rubbing alcohol. We avoided the huge exterminator fee, but we had to buy pretty much all new furniture which was equally expensive.

I don't know when you last had a mattress delivered but it works very differently these days than it used to work.

 

[quincy]

That link doesn't change my opinion about delivery services....I also am not very impressed with that particular bedbug "expert".

Our home had a severe bed bug infestation about 7 years ago due to my daughter staying in an hotel for a vacation. The reality of things is that we had to get rid of almost all of our furniture, steam clean the carpets twice and then spray down the entire home with 90 rubbing alcohol. We avoided the huge exterminator fee, but we had to buy pretty much all new furniture which was equally expensive.

I don't know when you last had a mattress delivered but it works very differently these days than it used to work.

We have had mattresses delivered with some frequency in recent years because our children have gone from cribs to youth beds to twin beds. I don’t know what you mean by “it works differently these days than it used to work.”

I tend to trust the bedbug expert over your experience with bedbugs.