We just found out one of our apartments is infested with bedbugs. Have already talked to an exterminator to treat. The guy is in his 60's and walks around with a walker. His apartment is filthy. We have spoken with him previously about cleaning better and looking for a different place. We told him today he needed to leave but he just says he can't afford to move. We have given him applications for a low income complex. He just refuses to help himself. He says he has nobody to move in with. Question is do we go through eviction process, 30 day notice to leave, social services? I don't know what it is going to take?

J,

Heat does not work. It just pushes them away, to return when things cools off.

Bedbugs are predictable. Go online and learn. Bugspray.com, DoMyOwn.com, and Google.

They will be centered around the humans, where body heat and CO breath are.

The eggs are basically impossible to see - tiny, clear, and sticky so don't bring them home with you. Rubber boots and strip before entering your home. Put those clothes in HOT wash and HOT dryer immediately.

You must also treat the adjoining apts because the critters travel.

At the first hint of bedbugs I recommend soaking the place with BedBugBully (all natural) then after it dries dusting LIGHTLY with diatomaceous earth or Delta Dust. They will just walk across thick dust.

Unfortunately, until you remove the tenant the problem will persist. No only do you have to treat the apartment, but all of his clothing, bedding, towels, sheets, pillows, etc have to be washed in HOT water and dried thoroughly. He will not comply with these directions... 99% chance.

Non-renew his lease if he's got 60 or fewer days until current lease expires or evict if allowed for refusal to comply with terms of lease.

Btw, I've heard it for years... "I can't afford to move." But when the sheriff shows up to put their stuff on the lawn... SURPRISE! Suddenly they have buddies and a truck and manage to move. The old "I can't afford it" is just a tool tenants use to put you off. Don't fall for it. Regardless, even if he can't afford his own place, you can't let him stay in yours. The entire building will be infested soon if you don't deal with this pronto.

Some people just need a kick in the pants to get them going. I don't like having to do it, but when I must, I must.

Had a tenant at a duplex chat me up. Said look at my $10 chair, ain't it pretty.

The chair was full of bedbugs which migrated to his wife's bed. She was on O2 and couldn't take the machine upstairs.

That was a very expensive chair for them. He paid for the pest control which included the dividing wall on the other side of the duplex.

These were clean people, just thrifty.

They are as thin as a sheet of paper and can go between feedings for up to 18 months. Heat kills them, but only if they are trapped at the source as Brad mentioned.

Couple years back I started putting DE in all the switch/receptacle boxes at turnover. Figured it couldn't hurt. Just a puff in each one. I have Tempo to use as well but haven't started with it yet.

Had a tenant move out and she left her mattress for the new tenant. They knew each other. Bed was full of bugs. Think I paid for half the treatment there, which came out of the last people's SD. I didn't have a tight lease back then for bugs.

Thanks for all the input. Just trying to come up with a solution. We would like to evict we have grounds. But we think he will just sit there and say he can't. The process for eviction can be costly.

The problem is he does not clean and does not wash and that's one of the things that need to be done. The bugs literally crawl on him and he does nothing. I am getting him an application for low income. If we have to we will pay for the move.

Just trying to come up with ideas and to cut the losses. Like our attorney once told us you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip.

We will give him the bill for the treatment but know he will just say he doesn't have the money. It has spread to the adjoining apartment which we are treating also. He has no kids and just a brother he is estranged from so family is not an option.

Thanks for all the input. Just trying to come up with a solution. We would like to evict we have grounds. But we think he will just sit there and say he can't. The process for eviction can be costly.

The problem is he does not clean and does not wash and that's one of the things that need to be done. The bugs literally crawl on him and he does nothing. I am getting him an application for low income. If we have to we will pay for the move.

Just trying to come up with ideas and to cut the losses. Like our attorney once told us you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip.

We will give him the bill for the treatment but know he will just say he doesn't have the money. It has spread to the adjoining apartment which we are treating also. He has no kids and just a brother he is estranged from so family is not an option.

Maybe not a good idea to evict on the basis of the bedbugs. Depending on your lease, and state/local laws, the judge might decide the infestation is your responsibility and the eviction is retaliatory.

Good call Scott.

Unless he can prove the tenant brought them in it might cause additional problems.

A company here that specializes in bed bug treatment held a full-day educational seminar regarding bed bugs. That's how much there is to learn about BBs and eradication.

They also did an engaging segment at our local Landlord Association. They brought live BBs in different stages of a lifespan for show and tell. Last in attendance were 6 BB detection dogs.

So how many people have read this thread and had an itchy scalp after?

Update on bedbugs: We got the tenant out. Basically told him it was unhealthy for him to be there and it would be irresponsible to move his stuff anyplace. We needed the apartment cleaned out to protect our property as they were spreading. It was infested. He got what he wanted and left. We are left with the cleanup and cost of extermination. I have all costs and conversations documented and in writing.

Update on bedbugs: We got the tenant out. Basically told him it was unhealthy for him to be there and it would be irresponsible to move his stuff anyplace. We needed the apartment cleaned out to protect our property as they were spreading. It was infested. He got what he wanted and left. We are left with the cleanup and cost of extermination. I have all costs and conversations documented and in writing.