Exterminator - Bed Bugs

[johnny_nas]

The whole block is throwing away mattreses, couches, etc...A few days ago I found out that the person below has them and her legs looked very marked up. Last night while going to sleep around 3am (feeding time), I felt something crawling on my legs....I ripped the comforter off and yes 2 little bugs crawling on my sheets...they were very small and i used my cellphone light to see them.

I called my landlord this morning to report this, and he came by...I was told the exterminator was too expensive and was given spray that was bought from the exterminator who confirmed the downstairs tenant as having bed bugs...The whole block has them, so the origination is unknown. My landlord does not want to hire an exterminator to take care of this issue...I do..What rights do I have, and can you give me some recommendations of some proven exterminators to rid these nasty creatures...I can not live like this...

I currently have sprayed all over my room, washed and dryed all my sheets, pillowcases, etc...I have ordered a mattress cover and will receive it Wed. I spent over 200 out of pocket on supplies in just one day...I dont think this is my responsibility..Please advise...

Thanks

Anyone use Baxter???

[HomeInspectorBC]

Hello and Happy Monday,

I highly recommend Rocky Albanese of Termites R Us at 215 768-1720.

Thank you for your time and good luck,

BC

[SouthPhillyLady]

it's the landlord responsibility for extermination no matter what origin. I would either deduct it from rent...or put in escrow while you go to small claims court.

[Ducky58888]

argh! It's bad enough I've had to deal with mice in my drop ceiling and flying sewer roaches all thru my house... I hope to GOD I don't get these bed bugs. My mattress if fairly new and we absolutely CANNOT afford to through everything out and start over. I am curious if you say a whole block infested what area your in... I know south philly but where?

More curious is I wonder if there are any preventative measures so as NOT to get them. hmmmmmmmmm.

GOOD LUCK!

[Dayman]

You know, the one or two tiny roaches I see at night during the summer only in the kitchen don't seem like much compared to flying roaches and bedbugs.

[CHIOSSO]

argh! It's bad enough I've had to deal with mice in my drop ceiling and flying sewer roaches all thru my house... I hope to GOD I don't get these bed bugs. My mattress if fairly new and we absolutely CANNOT afford to through everything out and start over. I am curious if you say a whole block infested what area your in... I know south philly but where?

More curious is I wonder if there are any preventative measures so as NOT to get them. hmmmmmmmmm.

GOOD LUCK!

How to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs | eHow.com

[TonyDanza]

You know, the one or two tiny roaches I see at night during the summer only in the kitchen don't seem like much compared to flying roaches and bedbugs.

Seriously. We get giant waterbugs in the basement (which the cat is more than happy to hunt down and destroy) a couple times throughout the summer, but I'll take those compared with this nonsense.

[Ray K.]

Bed bugs take it to another level all together - sue the bastard. At least one property is facing a potential class action suit for failing to tackle their bed bug problem with substantial means.

[DeeBee]

This is absolutely the land lord's responsibility. My question is where do you live in S. Philly? Yikes, the whole block has bed bugs????

[johnny_nas]

argh! It's bad enough I've had to deal with mice in my drop ceiling and flying sewer roaches all thru my house... I hope to GOD I don't get these bed bugs. My mattress if fairly new and we absolutely CANNOT afford to through everything out and start over. I am curious if you say a whole block infested what area your in... I know south philly but where?

More curious is I wonder if there are any preventative measures so as NOT to get them. hmmmmmmmmm.

GOOD LUCK!

Well Sunday night I did not sleep a wink, and just researched the issue...The most important preventive measure you can do is to buy a nice bedbug mattress cover from a mattress store...it might run you close to 100 dollars but you will save your mattress. There is not much else you can do...

I have a exterminator coming over tonight for a free consult and pricing..I will then tell the landlord to see what he wants to do...If nothing is done, I may have to break the lease....

I live on the west side of broad and ritner

[PhillyKev]

Send a certified letter to the landlord notifying him that if he does not hire an exterminator and take care of the problem you will do so and deduct the cost from your rent. Give him a time limit to reply (say 10 days) and if he does nothing, hire them yourself and deduct it.

Legally, there is an implied warranty of habitability in all leases, meaning, the landlord is legally required to control insect infestations.

PA Supreme Court Pugh vs. Holmes decision covers this:

In Pugh v. Holmes we noted that where a landlord breaches the implied warranty of habitability, the tenant may a) vacate the premises thereby terminating his obligation to pay rent, b) remain in possession and assert the implied warranty as a defense in an action for unpaid rent, c) make necessary repairs at his own expense and deduct the cost from the amount of rent due, or d) pursue other "traditional" contract remedies such as specific performance.

Read more: I am a tenant of a house in PA, the landlord is ... - JustAnswer

[MizFormaldehyde]

That's some crazy ****. But, we always used Steve Bugoff. (215) 338-3000

[Moonraker]

In May, Nightline or equivalent featured a story about bedbugs in NYC, where the problem is growing. The only 100% guaranteed kill is with heat. The exterminator litterally takes the house-room-apartment to over 130F maybe 140F. They have to remove anything which will melt, i.e. plastics.

The process is effective but still strange by most convention.

[Sycamore]

I feel itchy.

[borntochill]

In May, Nightline or equivalent featured a story about bedbugs in NYC, where the problem is growing. The only 100% guaranteed kill is with heat. The exterminator litterally takes the house-room-apartment to over 130F maybe 140F. They have to remove anything which will melt, i.e. plastics.

The process is effective but still strange by most convention.

100% guarantee? Hmmm, I guess the bedbugs wouldn't even consider scurrying over to an adjoining apartment, row home, or wall cavity where the heat doesn't reach them and then reinfesting the joint once the 1 or 2 hours of heat ends.

[PaperGirl]

Anyone use Baxter???

I see signs for Baxter on the subway...it looks like this is their speciality.

[lucy van pelt]

I feel itchy.

Me too. I really need to stop reading the threads that have to do with infestations.

[goldfish]

I had a really bad bed bug infestation a few years ago, luckily my landlord paid for an exterminator. It's important to find an exterminator that knows how to deal with bedbugs and has been successful at getting rid of them. I had to have my place treated 4 times. In the end we were successful at getting rid of them but it took a lot of patience and I threw out more than I probably needed too.

This website has a lot of useful information bed bug news, information, activism, and support ? Got bed bugs? Bedbugger.com. Be warned though that people panic so sometimes the forums can be overwhelming.

My exterminator was based out in the burbs but I will try and find his info.

[goldfish]

Also, does your landlord own the whole building? If so he should be treating the whole building. Bedbugs will move to other apartments.

[Ducky58888]

Me too. I really need to stop reading the threads that have to do with infestations.

Especially right before bed!!!!