Category Archives: Bed Bugs New Hampshire

Perhaps New Hampshires famous motto Live Free or Die will be slightly amended the state just passed a new law which means tenants and landlords may have an easier time living bed bug free.

Like other pieces of bed bug legislation were aware of, the new law, which we told you about when it was NH House Bill 482, isnt perfect. We outlined some concerns about it in that earlier story.

The New Hampshire law, which was passed in June and goes into effect January 1, 2014, stipulates that landlords have to pay for bed bug treatment initially. (This helps make sure everything happens quickly.)

However, the law allows landlords to later charge a tenant for having their own unit treated (with an installment payment plan if needed), if that tenant is considered responsible for bringing bed bugs into the building. That is fair, I think, but (as usual in these scenarios) I have some concerns about how it will be determined who is responsible.

As HB582 notes:

there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the tenant is responsible for the infestation if during the 6 months prior to the inception of the defendants tenancy, and throughout the defendants tenancy, there were no reports, to the landlord or a municipal health or housing authority, of the presence of bed bugs in the defendants unit or the dwelling units of a multiple-unit building that are adjacent to or directly above or below the defendants unit, or by previous tenants in a single-family home.

In other words, the law seems to suggest that if no other tenants report their bed bug problems, the tenant who does report bed bugs is assumed to be responsible.

This is faulty reasoning, because there are lots of possible reasons for those adjacent neighbors not to come forward and report their own problem with bed bugs.

We know for a fact that some people will have bed bugs and not notice, sometimes for a long time. More often, perhaps, some tenants will fear repercussions (not least of which, having to pay for treatment they may be unable to afford) and may stay silent. Some admit they are willing to put up with bed bugs rather than pay for treatment. And then there are the tenants who stealthily treat their own units rather than report bed bugs even though many DIY methods (like aerosols and foggers) make it more likely the bed bugs spreadto neighbors.

Read more:
Live Free of Bed Bugs in New Hampshire? — Got bed bugs ...

" Bed bugs New Hampshire cases are on the rise, with local pest control firms reporting more cases in the past 2 years than in the last 5. The Union Leader reports that bed bugs are an exploding problem across the state including Nashua, Berlin and Milford.."

New Hampshire is no exception when it comes to bed bugs. In testimony before the House Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee, one exterminator testified that the number of bed bug related calls rose from between 1 to 10/yr to over 300 in the past 2 years.

To combat the local bed bug problem, committees are forming to both educate home owners and to advocate for a coordinated state wide effort to fight the insects. For example, in Manchester, the Manchester Bed Bug Action Committee has been formed to coordinate efforts among home owners, renters, exterminators, health officials and the motel/hotel industry.

The key to treatment is to act early, so be sure to report any problem to both your landlord and the 211 hot line.

2-1-1 Hot line: This statewide resource is a great source for local bed bug information.

University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Service: There is a cooperative extension office in each county (Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Cobs, Grafton, HIssborough, Merimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan). The service can be reached via phone and will answer you bed bug questions. You can reach the Family, Home & Garden Education Center M-F 9AM - 2PM at 1-877-298-4769.

They can also refer you to a resource to confirm that the insect you trapped is in fact a bed bug (bedbugs are often confused with young roaches and beetles). You can download the Cooperative Extension Bed Bug Fact Sheet (PDF).

The New Hampshire Bed Bug Action Committee also provides information.

NH may study bed bug resurgence - UnionLeader

Bedbugs Found in Farmington School - WMUR(

See the article here:
Bed Bugs New Hampshire Information and Resources

MANCHESTER A new state law that requires landlords to quickly address complaints about bed bugs will be the main topic of an all-day conference Monday in downtown Manchester.

The New Hampshire Bed Bug Action Committee expects 200 people, including landlords, tenant groups, health care providers and government officials to attend the conference at the Radisson Hotel. It is being funded by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, which oversees commercial pesticide use in the state.

Rick Castillo, one of the organizers and a housing counselor at The Way Home, said the New Hampshire Bites Back II conference should mark a turning point in New Hampshire, as efforts move from reaction to prevention of the pests.

I believe we can greatly reduce the negative impacts of bed bug infestations such as lost school days, lowered work productivity, the high cost of treatment and discarded furniture not to mention the pure agony people experience from being bitten while they sleep at night, Castillo said.

On Jan. 1, a new law goes into effect that sets up responsibilities for both landlords and tenants once bed bugs are discovered in an apartment.

For example, a landlord must investigate and remediate an infection within seven days of receiving a complaint from a tenant. The landlord is financially responsible for the remediation and must give tenants written instructions about how to prepare for treatment 72 hours in advance.

Tenants have responsibilities too. They must allow a landlord emergency entry into their apartment after a bed bug complaint has been received. They must prepare their apartment for treatment. And they can be charged for the cost of the treatment if they are deemed responsible for the bed bug infestation.

A tenant is presumed responsible for an infestation if bed bugs are found only in the one unit and no other bed bugs have been reported in that unit or adjacent units for six months.

The law allows a judge to issue penalties to landlords and tenants when provisions are violated. It also allows for eviction if tenants disobey notices from the landlord.

Currently, towns and cities have different ordinances and procedures for addressing bed bugs, Castillo said.

Here is the original post:
Focus of Manchester meeting will be rooting out those bed bugs ...

Perhaps New Hampshires famous motto Live Free or Die will be slightly amended the state just passed a new law which means tenants and landlords may have an easier time living bed bug free.

Like other pieces of bed bug legislation were aware of, the new law, which we told you about when it was NH House Bill 482, isnt perfect. We outlined some concerns about it in that earlier story.

The New Hampshire law, which was passed in June and goes into effect January 1, 2014, stipulates that landlords have to pay for bed bug treatment initially. (This helps make sure everything happens quickly.)

However, the law allows landlords to later charge a tenant for having their own unit treated (with an installment payment plan if needed), if that tenant is considered responsible for bringing bed bugs into the building. That is fair, I think, but (as usual in these scenarios) I have some concerns about how it will be determined who is responsible.

As HB582 notes:

there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the tenant is responsible for the infestation if during the 6 months prior to the inception of the defendants tenancy, and throughout the defendants tenancy, there were no reports, to the landlord or a municipal health or housing authority, of the presence of bed bugs in the defendants unit or the dwelling units of a multiple-unit building that are adjacent to or directly above or below the defendants unit, or by previous tenants in a single-family home.

In other words, the law seems to suggest that if no other tenants report their bed bug problems, the tenant who does report bed bugs is assumed to be responsible.

This is faulty reasoning, because there are lots of possible reasons for those adjacent neighbors not to come forward and report their own problem with bed bugs.

We know for a fact that some people will have bed bugs and not notice, sometimes for a long time. More often, perhaps, some tenants will fear repercussions (not least of which, having to pay for treatment they may be unable to afford) and may stay silent. Some admit they are willing to put up with bed bugs rather than pay for treatment. And then there are the tenants who stealthily treat their own units rather than report bed bugs even though many DIY methods (like aerosols and foggers) make it more likely the bed bugs spreadto neighbors.

Read more from the original source:
bed bug news, information, activism, and support — Got bed ...

Bed Bugs are tiny parasitic insects that looks like cockroaches and ticks. Bed bugs are nasty creatures which not just bite the humans but also suck the blood. Many develop allergies to these and develop rashes or scars on the body due to the bites of these bed bugs. The Bed Bugs are more active during the night hours and would bite any part of your body that is open which you might not know while you are sleeping. The most common places where these bed bugs bite are portions of your face, your neck regions, arms, exposed parts of your hands, etc. As most of the bites are painless, hence is barely noticed by individuals.

The symptoms of bed bugs bites are not very distinct and hence most of the time remains unnoticed. Statistics and researches reveal that in majority of the cases, individuals do not experience any symptoms at all. In few cases the symptoms may appear in few minutes, whereas in other cases it may take days. Those who have been bitted by these bed bugs normally complain of itching and rashes (red colored lesions on skin). These areas are seen with slight swellings. In few cases when the individual is bitten several times, then the rashes or welts are seen on clusters as well. The clusters could also form in situations when the individual is allergic and one bite itself caused the body to develop rashes all over the affected area.

These rashes have seen to disappear within few days time, and if it still persists, then the individual is advised to consult a doctor. Those individuals who are affected by these bites repeatedly would have more distinct and pronounced bites when compared to individuals who are less prone to these bites. If one is bitten by these creatures frequently, then the chances of developing a skin infection is high. This is because, you tend to scratch the area over and over again causing abrasions an injuring he skin.

In rare cases, systemic allergies may also develop due to these bed bug bites. Few other symptoms of bed bugs bites are sleeplessness and nervousness. These are few of the extreme symptoms which occur when the individuals is very often bitten by bed bugs.

Bed Bugs could cause numerous health effects which includes skin rashes, psychological effects and allergic symptoms. Bed bugs bites could result in a array of skin manifestations from no visible consequences to distinguished blisters.Remedy requires the elimination in the insect but is in any other case symptomatic.

Bed bugs are difficult to see and usually active during the night and that makes it worse to spot the bed bugs. The bed bugs stay in the dark unnoticed in dark crevices, and their eggs mostly live in fabric seams. Bed Bug bite symptoms are fecal spots, blood smears on sheets, and molts. Bed bugs could be found singly, but usually congregate when set up. They generally continue to be close to hosts, commonly in or near beds or couches. Harborage locations can differ drastically, even so, including baggage, vehicles, furniture and bedside clutter. Bed bugs might also nest close to animals which have nested within a dwelling, such as bats, birds, or rodents. The eggs of bed bugs are located in related areas exactly where the bed bugs on their own are located, and therefore are connected to surfaces by a sticky compound. Attractant devices for detection use warmth and/or carbon dioxide. Bed bugs might be detected by their attribute scent of cilantro, coriander, almonds or over-ripe raspberries. .

* Hang garments farthest away from the bed * Spot baggage about the folding rack found in most lodges * Area baggage within the dry cleansing bag discovered while in the resort. * Most significant, never carry a mattress thats been used by unidentified people.

See original here:
Bed Bugs Guide - Causes,Symptoms & Treatment of bed bug bite