Bedbugs in rented property

[snowangel_uk]

Hi There

I recently moved into a rented property, and very shortly after moving in started receiving insect bites. Firstly I thought it was just general midge type bites due to the time of year, but very quickly the number of bites increased (at one point I had over 50 bites at one time), so I believed there may be something like a flea infestation.

I called a Pest Control company who have since confirmed the infestation is actually Bedbugs (eeeek !), which apparently can lay dormant in a property for months and months awaiting their next meal - which unfortunately is me !!!

I have reported this to my landlord (via my letting agent), and he has informed them he is not prepared to take responsibility for this, as he says they could have come from anywhere - he apparently even said they may have come from next door (not sure why that matters) !

Please can anyone advise me where I stand on this - any links, or legal advice would be so much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[snowangel_uk]

Tetjam...please crawl back under the rock you came from.

If you had done any research before leaving a pathetic answer, you would have found out that although they are called Bedbugs they don't necessarily live in a bed, they bite at night being attracted by the carbon dioxide and warmth of the human body. They can live in skirting boards, plug sockets or anywhere else that give them a suitable hiding place.

Do not bother responding again.

Anyone else who can assist with a proper response, your help would really be appreciated.

[888sally888]

This sounds terrible - surely the property must be let in an 'inhabitable state'. Is it worth talking to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Poor you!

[shaking]

I would suggest you contact the environmental health department and have the place fumigated.

[snowangel_uk]

Hi 888sally888 - I have been trying to get through to our local citizens advice for days - they seem permanently engaged (must be a lot of people needing their help!), but will keep on trying.

shaking - thanks, will def give environmental health a call, and see what they say too.

If anyone else can help with the legal standing on this, it would be great - obviously anyone who comes in to eradicate the problem is going to charge, and I really think my landlord should be footing the bill.

[lajohn]

collect some of the bugs in a jar. then visit your landlord and secretly release them in his home.

[888sally888]

I think there must be a legal angle here. For instance when you buy an item it is covered by the Sale of Goods Act 197?. I therefore think that there must be some sort of legal protection for you.

Your should sue for damages (ie all the bites), stress and anything else you can - I think the landlord is bang out of order and the letting agent should be helping you too.

[snowangel_uk]

lajohn - that really made me chuckle... thanks. x

[Twenty20]

If you contacted a pest control company, didnt you think to ask them to get rid of the bedbugs at the time? That would seem the logical step.

If they are a problem why not get rid of them? If you want the landlord to pay then you need to show that its his responsibility.
I dont know how you'd go about proving they were existing in the property or how the landlord would know about it as he doesnt live there.

[snowangel_uk]

Update - letting agents have taken the step of calling an additional pest control company to do a free survey. The company confirmed there is a severe infestation, which has been there for sometime, and they can also see signs that someone has attempted to treat the problem before.

So this now proves they were there before I moved in - left it in the hands of my letting agent to negotiate with my landlord.

Twenty20 - I see your point. It was only confirmed within the last week that the infestation was bedbugs, so I reported this to my letting agent straight away, as I did not believe this was my responsibilty. Also unfortunately (like many people) I don't have the spare money at the moment to shell out for 1, 2 or 3 possible treatments at nearly �100 quid a time.

[snowangel_uk]

I can only assume you are the person who used to call themselves Mamjet, who constantly abuses perfectly genuine posts from people looking for help and advice from sensible people.

I take it you can't actually read my posts on this subject or you choose not to read them, and then just write a pathetic, uncalled for, rude and ridiculous response. I assume it is again an attention seeking exercise. I really do feel quite sorry for you.

I wish answerbank would get rid of wastes of space like you - some people post on here with genuine concerns and queries and do not need to be bombarded with your idiotic comments.

[snowangel_uk]

If it was a constructive answer, I wouldn't have a problem with you my dear...

Your answers are partronising, rude and you clearly don't have any intention of answering the actual question being asked.

I can put up with people like you, you're not even a blip on my radar - but you actually post some really nasty responses on questions where the poster is clearly distressed and looking for genuine help.

Why not just grow up, and find another forum to vent your rantings !

[snowangel_uk]

Your original reply : Get a new bed and shut up.

Hardly supportive. And followed by a barage of nonsense, as per your usual responses.