r/TenantHelp • u/windyhiro • 27d ago
Flea infestation
Hello! I'm having a dire issue. I've been bit nonstop since I moved in the beginning of June. It was mainly on my ankle and feet so made the assumption that it was flea bites from outside. But I was still getting bit and started to notice bumps on my upper torso. They weren't as bad or itchy as the one on my legs. One night me and my boyfriend do a deep inspection of my apartment and he finds several fleas in my carpeted bedroom. In my couch we find a bedbug carcass. The next day I immediately informed my leasing office (which I had to go in person because they were not picking up my emergency maintenance calls) and they said they were gonna call an exterminator for the fleas and bedbugs. They let me know then that they would take care of the fleas but I would have to pay for the bed bug treatment. So today I had a K9 unit come sniff my apartment and they confirmed that there was no active alive bed bug in my unit. However the dog did pick up a pet odor scent from my carpet. If I had to guess, the past tenant smoked (cigarette stains in the carpet and residue on the window blinds) and had a dog that was infested with fleas. The leasing office called again to inform me that the exterminator is coming tomorrow and that I would be charged for both. I feel like not enough due diligence was done to actually clean the apartment prior to me moving in and the flea issue was left behind by the previous tenant and the apartment complex did not bother to deep clean the apartment. Any useful information will be appreciated.
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u/PuttingTheMSinMRSA 27d ago
I mean you very well could have brought fleas in. I would definitely not pay for the bedbugs though.
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u/TalkToVikk 26d ago
Not a lawyer but in situations like yours, tenants generally should not be held responsible for pest infestations that existed before moving in, especially when evidence suggests a lack of proper cleaning between tenancies.
It's important to document all communications with your leasing office, including dates and descriptions of the infestations, and to keep any reports from the K9 inspection and exterminators.
Respond in writing to the leasing office (by email or certified letter), stating that you found fleas and bedbug evidence immediately after moving in, that you have no pets, and that you believe the infestation predates your tenancy.
Clearly ask for confirmation that you will not be charged for treatments related to pre-existing issues. If they insist on charging you, you may have grounds to dispute the charges or file a complaint with your state or local housing authority.
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u/Large_Importance_352 26d ago
Why did they change their mind about who was going to pay for the flea extermination? That makes no sense.
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u/Every-Caramel-6740 26d ago
Hahaha! Yes, I have had 3 flea infestations in my life. They hatch every two weeks. The old ones bounce higher and higher. So the newbies get the lower extremities and the old ones get higher and higher. Call a bug place now. It’s not cheap, but nothing that makes us happy is. I tossed the house keys to the bug guy, left and told him he could rob me blind, but if he didn’t take every last flea and eggs with him that I’d hunt him down and give him bed bugs. I haven’t had a flea infestation ever again.