What Should I Do if I am a Visitor and the Apartment I Stayed In Was Infested with Bed Bugs

by Amanda H
(Oceanside, Ca, USA)

Can I take legal action against a negligent landlord?

Last month I was visiting family in Oceanside, CA and I was planning on staying with them for a couple of days, but the first night I was attacked and covered in bed bugs and bites, I had to go to the hospital.

My family notified their landlord, and all he did was give them some spray to spray in the house, but when I was reading the bottle it wasn't for indoor use and it didn't even kill bed bugs. They had to throw out everything and get an exterminator.

I let them use my furniture till they got their own, and its only been a month and I'm yet again being attacked by bed bugs, and my furniture is ruined and we have to bomb every weekend, and yet our landlord still has done nothing.

Editor Suggestions, Dealing with a Negligent Landlord About Bedbugs

As an Oceanside, California resident, you may be able to take legal action against your landlord under California law. California has specific laws that govern landlord-tenant relationships, including requirements for landlords to provide a habitable living environment for their tenants.

You may want to consider contacting a local attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law to discuss your legal options. They can help you understand your rights under California law and advise you on how to proceed with reporting the issue to the appropriate authorities and pursuing compensation for any damages you have suffered.

In addition to consulting with an attorney, you may also want to contact your local housing authority to report the issue. They may be able to conduct an inspection of the property and take enforcement action against the landlord if they find that the property is not in compliance with housing standards.

Remember to document everything related to the infestation, including photos of the bed bugs and their bites, copies of any communications with your landlord, and receipts for any expenses you have incurred. This documentation will be important evidence in any legal proceedings.

Best of luck

Jeff
Editor and Publisher
Bed Bugs Handbook