Does your Apartment Have Bed Bugs?

Can bed bugs spread from 1 apartment to the next?

Yes, bed bugs can indeed spread from one apartment to another, especially in multi-unit buildings. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can easily move from one place to another by crawling into clothing, bags, furniture, and other personal items. They are not limited by walls or barriers and can travel through tiny cracks and crevices.

If one apartment in a building becomes infested with bed bugs, there is a risk that the bed bugs could migrate to neighboring apartments. They can move through wall voids, electrical outlets, plumbing lines, and other hidden pathways. Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide and body heat emitted by humans, making it easy for them to find new hosts to feed on.

To prevent the spread of bed bugs in multi-unit buildings, it’s essential to take immediate action if an infestation is suspected. Both the affected apartment and adjacent units should be thoroughly inspected and treated by professional pest control experts. Additionally, residents should be educated about the signs of bed bug infestations and methods to prevent their spread, such as using mattress encasements, vacuuming regularly, and being cautious when bringing used furniture into their homes.

What are the signs there are bed bugs in my building?

Detecting a bed bug infestation early is crucial for effective control. Here are some signs that there may be bed bugs in your building:

1. Bite Marks: Bed bug bites are often itchy and appear in a clustered pattern on exposed skin. However, bites alone are not definitive proof of an infestation, as their appearance can vary from person to person.
2. Blood Stains: After feeding, bed bugs can leave behind small blood stains on sheets, pillowcases, or other bedding. These stains might look like tiny reddish-brown spots.
3. Dark Fecal Spots: Bed bugs also leave behind dark fecal spots on bedding, mattresses, or nearby furniture. These spots can resemble small ink stains or dots.
4. Shed Skins: As bed bugs grow, they shed their exoskeletons, leaving behind translucent, empty shell-like remnants. These can be found around hiding spots such as mattress seams, crevices, and cracks.
5. Egg Casings: Bed bug eggs are tiny, oval-shaped, and whitish. They are often laid in clusters and can be found in hidden areas like mattress seams, crevices, and behind furniture.
6. Unpleasant Odor: In severe infestations, bed bugs can release a sweet, musty odor. If you notice an unusual smell, it could be a sign of a significant infestation.
7. Visible Bed Bugs: Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects. Although they are skilled at hiding, you might see them in the folds of mattresses, along seams, behind headboards, or in other cracks and crevices.
8. Rusty or Dark Spots on Bedding: These spots could be crushed bed bugs or their fecal matter.
9. Trails and Clusters: Look for clusters of bed bugs or small trails of bugs along seams, edges, or crevices of mattresses, furniture, or walls.
10. Bites on Multiple People: If several people in the building are experiencing similar bite symptoms, it could indicate a widespread infestation.

Who is responsible for bed bug treatments in multi-units?

If you suspect a bed bug infestation in your building, it’s important to take immediate action. Contact your building management or landlord to report the issue. Professional pest control experts should be hired to inspect and treat the affected areas properly. Keep in mind that eviction is not an option for reporting bed bugs, and the landlord/building owners are responsible for the cost of treatment. Below you will find a breakdown of the bylaws for Alberta with detailed responsibilities and expectations. Education is optimal for both parties so every party knows their role.

1. Residential Tenancies Act (RTA): The Residential Tenancies Act of Alberta governs the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants in the province. The RTA does not specifically address bed bugs, but it does require landlords to provide and maintain habitable premises. This means that landlords are generally responsible for providing rental units that are safe and fit for habitation, including being free from pest infestations.
2. Landlord Responsibilities: Landlords in Alberta are typically responsible for ensuring that their rental properties are free from pests, including bed bugs, at the start of a new tenancy. If a bed bug infestation occurs during a tenant’s occupancy and is not caused by the tenant’s actions, the landlord is often responsible for arranging and paying for pest control treatments.
3. Tenant Responsibilities: Tenants are responsible for keeping the rental unit clean and reporting any issues to the landlord promptly. If a tenant introduces bed bugs into the unit or fails to report an infestation promptly, they could potentially be held responsible for the costs of extermination.
4. Notice and Entry: Landlords are required to give proper notice before entering a rental unit for purposes such as inspections or repairs. If pest control treatments are necessary, landlords should coordinate with tenants to ensure proper access and cooperation.
5. Documentation: Both landlords and tenants should document the presence of bed bugs, including photographs, written communication, and any pest control records.

If We Clean Pest Control suspects other units have been infected, the landlord has the right to inspect other units, with the 24-hour notice required for entry. If you are a tenant, you are responsible for cooperating with the landlord to resolve the issue.

Keep in mind that We Clean Pest Control has worry-free, 24-hour effective bed bug heat treatment for the least amount of inconvenience for the tenant and quick resolve for the landlord. Avoid Hidden Fees, Salvage Furniture, and Get Rid of Bed Bugs in 1 Bed Bug Treatment only!