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Bed bugs are small insects that feed mainly on human blood. Bed bug infestations are increasingly common in New York City. Bed bugs can enter homes by latching onto used furniture, luggage and clothing, and by traveling along connecting pipes and wiring. Left untreated, bed bugs can spread quickly.
Property owners are required to address bed bug infestations promptly. The surest strategies to keep bed bugs from spreading are prevention, early detection, and rapid treatment. To learn more, see the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)Preventing and Getting Rid of Bedbugs Safelyguide.
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Tenants should report the presence of bed bugs to the property owner. If the property owner does not address the condition, file a complaint online or call 311.
When calling 311 to make a bed bug complaint, the caller may be asked by the 311 operator about whether it would be acceptable for HPD to bring a dog trained to sniff out bed bugs to participate in an inspection (note that even if requested, the dog may not accompany an Inspector). Whether or not a dog is present during an inspection, an HPD Inspector will conduct a visual inspection. Violations will be issued if the Inspector is able to visually confirm the presence of live bed bugs.
Listen to this podcast to learn more about bed bug-sniffing dogs and when HPD brings them into homes to investigate a possible bed bug infestation in this podcast.
Property Owner Requirements
The Housing Maintenance Code and Health Code both require that property owners address infestations promptly.
The surest strategies to keep bed bugs from spreading are prevention, early detection, and rapid treatment. To learn more, see the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)Preventing and Getting Rid of Bedbugs Safelyguide.
Bed bug infestations usually require the services of well-trained, licensed pest management professionals, also called exterminators. New York State law requires that property owners hire only pest control professionals licensed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)to treat apartments for bed bugs. The pest control professional should perform an inspection to confirm the presence of bed bugs and to eliminate bed bugs, if necessary. Property owners are expected to make follow-up visits to ensure that there are no signs of a bed bug infestation.
Property owners of rental residential properties are now required to file a Bed Bug Annual Report. See the Bed Bug Annual Report Requirement section of this webpage for the additional requirements. Once the Bed Bug Annual Report has been filed, the property owner is required to either provide the filing receipt to each tenant (upon commencement of a new lease and with each lease renewal) OR post the filing receipt in a prominent location in the building. In addition, the property owner must either distribute to each tenant or post the DOHMHPreventing and Getting Rid of Bedbugs Safelyguide, which provides information on the prevention, detection, and removal of bedbugs.
Bed Bug Annual Report Requirement
Local Law 69 of 2017 requires that all multiple dwelling property owners must attempt to obtain the bed bug infestation history from the tenant or unit owner, including whether eradication measures were employed for a bedbug infestation.
Complete your Annual Bed Bug Report. Pursuant to the law, HPD will make the submitted information publicly available through HPDONLINE.
The online application will only allow validly registered property owners and managing agents of multiple dwellings to disclose bedbug infestation history. A buildings property registration must be current. If you have not registered your property, please do so by visitingProperty Registration.
Property owners will be required to file annually between December 1and December 31 for the previous year from November 1 through October 31.
Property owners will be required to report the following information:
When submitting, the owner will certify that either:
Once the Bed Bug Annual Report has been filed, the property owner is required to either provide the filing receipt to each tenant (upon commencement of a new lease and with each lease renewal) OR post the filing receipt in a prominent location in the building. In addition, the property owner must either distribute to each tenant or post the DOHMHPreventing and Getting Rid of Bedbugs Safelyguide, which provides information on the prevention, detection, and removal of bedbugs.
If you do not have access to a computer or email, you can file a report using this form. Please follow all instructions carefully.
Please note that New York State law requires property owners to disclose bedbug infestation history dating back one year to new tenants through theBedbug Disclosure Form. For more information, visit theNYS Homes and Community Renewalwebsite.
Questions? See theBedbugs Annual Report FAQs.
Tenants should report the presence of bed bugs to the property owner. If the property owner does not address the condition, file a complaint online or call 311.
HPD provides a special service for the inspection of bedbugs: HPDs Canine Unit. The beagles are available to assist a team of Code Enforcement Inspectors who have been trained to work with them. The Canine Unit will respond to bedbug complaints where the 311 operator has confirmed that the tenant would like to have the inspection performed by a dog; although not every such complaint can be inspected by the Canine Unit. The dogs were trained at an accredited facility to alert by sitting when they detect live bedbugs or viable eggs. The findings are confirmed by visual inspection before a violation is issued.
If the HPD inspector finds bedbugs, the property owner is issued an HPD Notice of Violation (NOV) ordering that the condition be addressed. When a NOV is issued by HPD, the property owner also receives a DOHMH Order of the Commissioner. The Commissioners order provides property owners more detail on the requirements for addressing bedbugs, including:
Certification of HPD's NOV is the only required notification back to the City that the condition has been corrected as instructed. There is no response directly to the DOHMH. The HPD Certification of Correction requires a sworn statement that the above corrective actions have been taken, in compliance with the DOHMH Commissioners Order. For information about completing your certification documents for HPD, you can contact your Borough Service Center or certify online usingeCertification.
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Bedbugs - HPD - New York
