Monthly Archives: October 2015

Looking on kijiji I came accross a 1 BR apartment for $470/month which was right around my budget. My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday to go and view it while the current occupant was still there. After going to take a look I specifically asked the caretaker if they had ever had any issues with bed bugs in the building and he replied with a very insured "no". I was approved for this apartment owned by D7 Property management. A week after I was approved the previous occupant moved out (dec.1st 2012)and any day I was able to move in and would receive my keys as soon as I payed my first months rent ( December) which was paid on the 1st. My boyfriend and I went to the apartment with intentions to clean before moving in. I had brought my 6 month old son along.He got hungry so I then made him a bottle and sat on the living room floor and observed the baseboards which I then noticed that there were little insects crawling on them. I went and took a closer look and then realized they were bed bugs! I called my boyfriend over and immediately took everything off the carpet in the living room. I showed my boyfriend what I had seen and we then called the caretaker to come and take a look for himself! The caretaker had said that he had never seen them before and he insured me that he would contact the property management and have them call the exterminator (low-cost). I then went ahead and called the health inspector the next day just to make sure all necessary actions were taken and the problem was being properly taken care of. The bed bug hotline, which contacts the health inspector, informed me to document everything that's been going on and to take pictures as proof. They also let me know that if I wanted to, I was allowed to even go as far as knocking on other occupants doors and ask them myself if they've ever had any problems. I went to the apartment after speaking with them and took a couple photos. When I was leaving a lady from down the hall on the same floor was leaving her apartment. I said "excuse me, I was just wondering if you know if they've ever had any issues with bed bugs in the building?" She then told me that the girl that lived in the apartment that I was moving into had her place sprayed for them and she had hers sprayed too just in case. I thought it was kinda funny becaus the caretaker told me no, they've never had any issues. I made sure I was able to talk to the exterminator himself and ask what I was to do to maintain the apartment and prevent them from coming back. I also wanted to make sure they actually had someone there to spray. He informed me that I had to go to the apartment 24 hrs later and vacuum. I asked him if hes ever been to these apartments before and he said no but has been to the building. I later confronted the caretaker via telephone about what i had found out from a tenant on the same floor and his story than changed. The next day when i went back to the apartment to vacuum the caretaker informed me they had a 2 BR available now next door and it was only $540/month. My thought at that time was my son could have a bedroom and my boyfriend and I could have one as well for just $70 more a month. The caretaker allowed us to go and take a look at it and in the bathroom inside the bathtub, there, was a bed bug. I let him know I was definitely interested in this apartment but wanted it sprayed as well. Again I made sure that I was there for when they sprayed so I knew they actually did. When the exterminator was there they were spraying the apartment across the hall as well. The tenants in that suit were still sleeping when they showed up. I commented to the caretaker that its people like that that are the reason why stuff like this is an ongoing issue. Because I had to go back and vacuum the next day I traded the caretaker keys and gave him the keys for the 1 BR I was originally going to rent and he gave me the keys for the 2 BR. I let him know that by that weekend Saturday we would have the $111 difference and at the time I give him the money i will sign the lease. The following week, Wednesday, I received a call from the health inspector who asked me what happened with the situation and I informed him that they sprayed and the caretaker was taking care of the situation immediately. The health inspector let me know he was going to call the caretaker and make sure he was doing everything he was suppose to. I gave him the caretakers name and phone number. Around 3 pm that same day I also received a call from D7 property management. They immediately informed me that the caretaker received a phone call from the health inspector and suggested to me that I find somewhere else to move. They then told me that I didn't seem happy and i insisted that I appreciated everything the caretakers doing and that the exterminators are there the same day that the phone call is made.They then told me that if I was happy then they'd hate to see me mad. I had informed them that they cannot under any conditions evict me from the building for calling a health inspector and again they "suggested" that I find somewhere else to move and that there were Alot of sour faces in the office. I assured them that the tenancy board would be notified. Later that evening my boyfriend and I went to the building to pay the difference of $111 for the 2 bedroom and sign the 1 year lease. I tried knocking on the caretakers door, no answer. Tried calling, no answer. We decided we would go to the apartment and wait a few mins and try again. When we got to the door to the apartment, the lock had been changed. Cleaning products inside, no key that would unlock the door, I was furious and so was my boyfriend. We took a quick look outside and noticed that the caretakers lights were off, but were on when we arrived. We stood outside his door and called his house phone from both my phone and my boyfriends and still no answer. When we were trying to call we could hear the phone ringing inside and also heard the floor creaking as the caretaker was in the apartment but ignored our calls and the knocks on the door. I then tried calling police non emergency as to how to go about retrieving my belongings. They suggested I contact tenancy board as they could not do anything unless there was a dispute. I contacted the tenancy board the next day and explained the situation and told them I wanted all my money back. D7 was more than happy to but than gave me a hard time when I showed up for my money. Not only was I labeled "one of the assholes that come in" by an older lady working in one of the rooms in the back, but she also wanted me to wait or come back in a couple hours. I refused and demanded it immediately as I have better things to do than play along with their games and f*** around all day. After all this hassle I contacted a friend that works for the city and arranges inspections. My friend informed me that 242 Machray St. has had 15 + complaints about bed bugs in the past year. Lets just say next time I apply for an apartment i'm going to do my research and make sure there is no bad history with the property management and I get all info I need prior to applying. Also, I will NEVER rent from D7 and I will make sure that building gets inspected by higher authority as well as future and present residents are aware of the on goings that have happened.

Visit link:
d7 property managment - BED BUGS AND MICE/RATS, Review ...

by Robert Reid Jul 23 2012

Nothing sends a shiver down a traveler's spine quite like the prospect of bedbugs. After 50 years of virtual absence in the USA, bedbugs came back with a vengeance in 2010, giving rise to such hysteria that Chicago hosted a bedbug summit with demos on how to freeze or fry the bugs. In New York City, the little guys were being found in dorms, offices, penthouses. While the pandemonium might have abated (for now), no destination is immune to these little vampires and a tidy well-kept room doesn't always mean a bug-free zone.

Pin this image Bed bug by liz.novack. Creative Commons Attribution licence

But let's take a deep breath and relax on this. Bedbugs are a problem, but there are a couple things to do to help minimize risk of getting bites, or taking them home with you from a trip.

When planning where to stay, check for recent complaints of hotels at BedBugRegistry.com or Bedbugger.com.

After checking into your room or dorm, search mattress seams and bedside tables for signs of bugs (blood or fecal stains, or actual bugs). Note that one infested room doesn't mean all rooms in the hotel have them. This handy list on Bedbug.com has tips on steering clear of bloodsuckers on planes, in tents, RVs and everywhere else you never imagined bedbugs might lurk.

If you're unlucky enough to be bitten, resist the urge to scratch. Wash the bites and treat them with an anti-itch cream. Not sure it was a bedbug? Their bites tend to be in lines or concentrated areas (they basically graze across your skin) and bites can appear up to two days after exposure. If there's an insect burrowed into you, that isn't a bedbug - seek medical help immediately as you might have a tick.

Prevent taking them home by storing your suitcase on a stand, and well away from the bed. Pack your dirty clothes in sealable bags if you think you've been in bedbug-infested quarters. Tell the hotel or hostel that you suspect bedbugs and try to specify the room you stayed in.

Wash all your clothes even if you didn't wear them and dry on 'hot' if possible. This handy FAQ has tips on getting rid of the little vamps and dealing with bedbug eggs.

Bedbugs can be notoriously tricky to get rid of. They can survive a year without feeding, they can lurk in the tiniest corners, and pest controllers sometimes need to make repeat visits to get rid of them.

Bedbugs aren't fun, but at least they don't transmit any diseases. And one entomologist noted in the Times that'we probably have no greater admirers in the insect world'. So there's that. Unlike real vampires, it'd seem, bedbugs really really like us.

This article was first published in October 2010 and was refreshed in July 2012.

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How to deal with bedbugs - Lonely Planet