Baltimore Bed Bugs Glen Manor Apartments

(Glen Manor apartmants essex, Md)

We live in Baltimore Maryland in an apartment complex called GlenManor in essex maryland to be exact. Please be advised these apartments are infested with bed bugs.

Eighty five percent of the building are infested and the complex knew this as they were letting new tenants move in and out , along with tranfering tenants infested to different buildings causing the spread of these disgusting creatures.

They brought in a dog to sniff but because there are so many and it is so expensive and slow at trying to remedy this problem they have been moving from apartment to apartment. I have no idea what to do. I have been living here for over ten years and have ten years worth of stuff now.

I'm so afraid I have to throw it all away. There needs to to a law that all apartments before moving in must be inspected and that landlords need to be held responsiable for any losses due to there ill regard to there tenants.

Editor Suggestions Baltimore Bed Bug Problem

Hi,

Thanks for your note. Your story shows that Baltimore needs better laws to protect tenants, with clear penalties if landlords do not act within a specified time frame. Note that the law does provide some protection as described below.

You have two problems, getting the treatment required to eliminate bed bugs from the building and protection of your belongings.

As you point out, the best approach is an aggressive building wide building plan where either heat or foggers/insectides are used to treat the entire building. Heat is preferred as it is 100% effective and chemical free.

I'd suggest that you start by understanding your rights as a tenant. There are a few resources available that can be accessed on our guide to Baltimore Bed Bugs. Specifically, contact the Maryland attorney generals office and the Baltimore department of health.

Be sure that all inspection and treatment requests to the Glen Manor Apartment management company are sent in writing in a dated letter. Ask that all adjacent apartments are inspected, and that a written report be provided (apartments next door, below and above yours). If you haven't made a formal request, do so now. Send the letter return receipt requested so there is a legal record of the notification.

If necessary, contact a lawyer to organize tenants into a rent strike where rent is placed into escrow until treatment is received. Don't do this without a lawyer to avoid eviction and to make sure you abide by Baltimore County law.

In general, landlords have 30 days to correct a situation after notification (although this isn't set in stone). Also, based on my understanding of the law in your area, if bed bugs are in multiple units, the landlord is responsible for treatment.

"Rat proofing and pest extermination: Where infestation occurs in the shared or public areas or in 2 or more dwelling units in a building, the owner is responsible for extermination of rats, insects, or other pests."

Again, I'd suggest organizing tenants, hiring an attorney and forcing the building manager to do what is necessary to fix the situation.

If you can move to another complex, so do with a mover that has heat chambered moving trucks. Your belongings will be loaded into the truck and then then heat will be used to kill all bed bugs and eggs by heating the storage area of the truck. This is 100% effective, chemical free and will not have to dispose of any items. Note that heat is not good for electronics.

Check with your television and computer manufacturer to see if these can be treated at high temperatures (about 120F). If not, either seal in a plastic container for 14 months, or dispose of the items. Everything else can be treated.

Best of luck with this Baltimore Bed Bug problem.