Property Management Questions: Is a Bedbug Infestation the Tenant’s Fault?

By Utopia Property Management

As a long-time San Diego Property Management company who manages rentals across Southern California, we’ve had a lot of common questions over the years regarding if something is a landlord or tenants fault.

Although bed bugs were once a thing of the past, they are becoming more of an issue in this day and age and most people want to know if the landlord or tenant is to blame if bed bugs are found at their rental property.

Landlord or Tenant – Who Is to Blame?

Thanks to (Knight vs. Hallsthammer (1981) 29 C.3rd 46). California Civil Code Section 1941.1, we know that landlords are legally required to keep their rental properties in habitable condition and this means that they must also be free of critters like bed bugs.

Landlords must take steps to remove bed bugs if they are found in the rental property and they also must not take legal action if the tenant reports them because California Civil Code Section 1942.5 prohibits a landlord from taking action against a tenant if they’ve reported a repair or problem like bed bugs.

How Tenants Can Protect Themselves from Bed Bugs

There are a wide variety of ways that tenants can protect themselves from bed bugs including the following:

• Buy furniture or clothing from regular stores or thrift stores where the used items have been inspected.
• Use vacuumed sealed bags to protect clothing or other items that may not be used in the rental property.
• Keep the rental property cleaned and remove any bugs or critters if they are spotted.

Get Property Management Here

Tired of managing your Southern California rental property yourself? For professional property management in Southern California contact Utopia Management by calling us at (858) 598-1111 or connect with us online through our website.