How to Get Repairs Part 1 and Part 2.

Going to court is not an easy thing by any means, but I’m sure you know that already. I hope you can avoid it. And get appropriate legal advice either way.

Thank you for responding to my post. We had someone come to our home today to inspect the premises from The Stern Environmental Group. We have printed a copy of the Guidelines For Prevention and Management of Bed Bugs in Shelters and Group Living Facilities from the Cornell Website. Community Access also told us that they are going by this manual, but after reading it, they are not doing anything close to what is in that manual. At this point, after living with this for a year, we are tempted to just pay for this treatment ourselves. We are going to give these providers one more chance to fix this. When we get the report from The Stern Environmental Group, I am going to send it to Community Access and tell them that this is what NEEDS to be done. If they are unwilling at this point, then we will pay it and take them to court for it.

If you have any more helpful information, I would appreciate it. Thank you for the information you did give to me, I will pass it on to them and see what they do now.

Thank you

I’m so sorry that you are going through this.

Perhaps you can take a copy of the Cornell guidelines and other authoritative sources (you may wish to consult some of the resources listed on our Links page) and write a letter and/or schedule a meeting with the property management to come up with an eradication plan that actually has a chance of succeeding. For example, the Australian Code of Practice has this to say:

As the eggs take 7-10 days to hatch, this should be the minimum period for any follow up visit. However, in heavy infestations several follow up visits will be required before bed bug elimination is achieved.

And this article, Control of Bed Bugs in Residences – Information for Pest Control Companies, from Dr. Stephen Kells at the University of Minnesota Extension, says about follow-up inspections:

5. FOLLOW UP INSPECTIONS
Approximately two weeks post inspection, another inspection of the premises is required to confirm that all bed bugs were eliminated. This inspection must be as thorough as the preliminary inspection (described above), and if bugs are found again, control procedures must be repeated. In my experience, cost control failures encountered were a result of missed hiding places. The presence of bed bugs in previously treated areas may be a result of these bugs moving from an untreated site (or sites) to areas closer to their food source. Attention to detail is critical for complete elimination and the follow up inspection is critical ensuring that bed bugs have not survived control procedures.

You should coordinate and cooperate with other tenants who are also affected. It may be easier to deal with them if you are a larger group. I know it is very hard but other people have organized their neighbors and been successful in getting their management to understand what it really takes to eradicate bedbugs from the whole building.

My thoughts about treating yourself — hiring someone and then getting reimbursed — are that there is a high likelihood of long-term failure when the infestation has already spread to other apartments so that it will not be any more cost-effective (because even if successful in the short-term, reinfestation from untreated apartments that are also infested is a strong possibility). Simultaneous inspection and treatment is what is required.

Perhaps you already know this but the Bedbugger Forums are a great source of support and advice (you will feel less alone). I also highly recommend that you consult the Bedbugger FAQs.

I wish you success in this fight, Joann. It will not last forever. Please let us know if we can help.

Tell us about it.