Bed bugs are insects that can quickly spread throughout your home if they manage to find a way in. If you reside in an apartment complex, an infestation in just one of your neighbor’s apartments is enough to spread bed bugs throughout the entire structure. While there are ways to prevent bed bugs from spreading, it may ultimately be the landlord’s responsibility to exterminate an infestation. If you or a family member are renting a property that is infested with bed bugs, you should consult with an experienced Montgomery County bed bug infestation lawyer.
The infestation lawyers at Whitney, LLP can help you hold a negligent landlord liable for their actions. Our lawyers have extensive experience dealing with a wide variety of extermination cases, and we will use this experience to help you pursue the compensation that you deserve. To schedule a consultation to discuss your claim, call Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000, or contact us online.
How to Stop a Bed Bug Infestation from Spreading
A bed bug infestation can start in a number of ways. One way is by bringing home bed bugs in your luggage from a hotel that was not properly cleaned. This is why it is important to keep your luggage away from the floors and to inspect your hotel room before you get comfortable.
Another way that bed bugs may spread is if you purchase used or new furniture that is infested. Bed bugs like to hide within the crevices of furniture and cracks in your walls, so you should inspect those areas if you suspect your living space is infested. These insects may also crawl into your home from a neighbor’s apartment.
There are multiple ways to spot a bed bug infestation. One of the first ways is to check your sheets for unexplained bloodstains or shed skin. Bed bugs are typically as small as apple seeds, but sometimes you can visually see them crawling between your mattress seams and other dark places in your home.
The first thing you should do to stop the spread of bed bugs is to thoroughly clean your living space and remove any clutter that could be concealing bed bugs, be sure to be diligent in cleaning your bed and furniture near your bed.
Next, you should move your bed and all other pieces of furniture as far away from the walls as possible. Be sure to vacuum all the areas that bed bugs love to hide in, like mattresses, box springs, furniture, windows, and molding. Additionally, try to discover and seal any crevices in your wall that bed bugs may travel through.
While some pesticides are effective against bed bugs, you should first determine whether your landlord is responsible for the extermination of an infestation. Incorrectly using pesticides indoors can be hazardous to your health. If a landlord is responsible for an infestation, they will be required to use methods regulated by Montgomery County to exterminate the bed bugs.
To learn more about bed bug infestations, you should speak with an experienced Maryland bed bug infestation lawyer.
Is Your Landlord Liable for Bed Bug Extermination?
To determine whether your landlord is liable for bed bug extermination, you must look at the rental housing code for your county. In Maryland, the rental housing code in each county can vary. This is why it is important to know the code for your district and be aware of any clauses in your lease that may try to shift responsibility for an infestation.
In Montgomery County, the rental housing code states that the resident of a single-family unit is responsible for the extermination of bed bugs and other insects and rodents that may have infiltrated the home. If you live in an apartment complex and your apartment is the only one that is infected with bed bugs, you will likely be responsible for handling the extermination.
The owner of a housing complex is liable for bed bug extermination if the infestation is occurring in more than one unit or if the infestation has affected the common areas of the structure. The landlord will also be responsible for an infestation if they did not properly maintain the premises in order to prevent a bed bug issue.
Our Montgomery County Bed Bug Infestation Attorneys Can Help You File a Claim
If your home has a bed bug infestation issue that your landlord refuses to correct, you should contact an experienced Montgomery County bed bug extermination attorney. At Whitney, LLP, our attorneys are ready to listen to the details of your case and work with you to develop a legal strategy to handle your case. To schedule a consultation to discuss your potential case, call Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000, or contact us online.