Bed Bugs & Pests
Pest infestations are your landlord's responsibility to address. NYC has specific laws about bed bug disclosure, extermination responsibilities, and tenant protections during pest treatment.
Landlord's Responsibility
Under NYC law, landlords must keep apartments and common areas free of pests including bed bugs, roaches, and rodents. Extermination is the landlord's financial responsibility — they cannot charge you for it. For bed bugs specifically, the landlord must use a licensed pest management professional.
Bed Bug Disclosure Law
NYC's Bedbug Disclosure Act requires landlords to provide bed bug infestation history for the past year to prospective tenants before signing a lease. This includes information about which units and common areas have had infestations. Failure to disclose is a violation.
Tenant Obligations During Treatment
While your landlord pays for pest treatment, you must cooperate with preparation requirements (washing linens, clearing clutter near treatment areas). Your landlord should provide specific written instructions. If preparation is particularly burdensome, your landlord may need to assist.
Filing Complaints
If your landlord refuses to address a pest problem, file a complaint with 311. HPD will inspect and issue violations if warranted. Pest infestations typically receive Class B (hazardous) violations with a 30-day correction period. For severe infestations, you can bring an HP action in housing court.
Do's & Don'ts
Do
- Report infestations to your landlord in writing immediately
- File a 311 complaint if your landlord doesn't respond
- Cooperate with pest treatment preparation instructions
- Ask for the bed bug history before signing a new lease
- Document the infestation with photos
Don't
- Pay for extermination yourself — it's the landlord's responsibility
- Throw away furniture without checking if treatment can save it
- Use over-the-counter pesticides for bed bugs — they can spread the infestation
- Ignore a small problem hoping it goes away
- Move furniture from an infested apartment to another unit
Helpful Resources
Need Help? Call 311 (Pest Complaints)
311Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions answered
Yes. NYC law requires landlords to remediate bed bug infestations. They must also provide bedbug infestation history for the previous year before you sign a lease.
File a complaint with 311 or HPD online. An inspector will assess the condition and issue a violation if warranted. You may also be able to use the rent reduction process through DHCR.
NYC requires landlords to provide a one-year bedbug infestation history at lease signing. You can also search Lucid Rents — we display bedbug reports from HPD's bedbug disclosure database.
Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact a qualified attorney or one of the free legal services listed above.