Local News

Actions

YOU ASK. WE INVESTIGATE. Mom says bed bugs are attacking her family home

Posted at 6:47 PM, Jul 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-08 21:47:07-04
A mother reached out to us with a plea to help her family. She says they have been plagued with bed bugs since March.
 
The bed Casey Bartlett says they bought brand new in March is now sitting outside. She and her husband are sleeping on the floor of the living room to try and avoid being bitten by bed bugs. Their biggest concern is their 18-month-old daughter.
 
"When she got bit it was all over her side and it was all red, so I took her to the urgent care right away," said Bartlett. "She's allergic to bed bugs."
 
Bertlett said they told their landlord in writing they had bed bugs, and the landlord came and sprayed the apartment himself. But she said he only came out once and the bed bugs never left. She said she tried to kill them herself, too.
 
"I bombed our rooms, bombed the kitchen, bombed this whole house, it still doesn't work," said Bartlett.
 
13 Action News went to the leasing office to get answers. 
 
The woman at the desk admitted it is the landlord himself who has sprayed their apartment. She said they use professional products, but admitted they have not hired a professional exterminator. 
 
She also said Bartlett would not let them in all the rooms and that is why the bugs are still there, but Bartlett said that's not the truth. 
 
Management told us they would try again.
 
According to the Civil Law Self Help Center, bed bugs are a habitability issue.
 
You shoudl give your landlord written notice and if they don't use their best efforts to get rid of the pests in 14 days, you can withhold rent or break your lease. 
 
But they're tricky because you have to prove you didn't bring the bed bugs in.