What is a bed bug?
Bedbugs are bloodsucking insects: they feed on the blood of human beings! So, wherever there are humans, there will be bed bugs! Bedbugs have oval and flattened bodies and microscopic hairs, giving them a reddish-brown appearance. They are visible to the naked eye (5 to 8 mm long) and do not fly because they have no wings but walk fast.
Hygiene has nothing to do with the problem! There has been a resurgence of these insects since the 1990s, but they have existed for millennia. The proof is found in some Egyptian tombs dating back to 3550 years! Globalization has favored business and tourist travel, meaning bed bugs travel...in your suitcases! Big cities are the first and most infested.
Recognize the signs of bed bugs
Infestation of bedbugs is now a major public health problem. Here are the main clues and symptoms of their presence:
On your body:
- You itch!
- You have pimples or small red patches on your arms, legs, or back.
- The bites on the skin are arranged in a straight line
- You suffer from an allergic reaction, with very painful itching red-colored blisters. Do not scratch, or you risk serious infections!
On the bedding:
- Sheets and pillows are stained with unexplained small traces of blood,
- Black dots on the mattress seams are visible (bedbugs’ excrement).
How to prevent infesting your home after traveling?
When arriving from a trip abroad, the traveler must guard against an infestation of their furnished apartment rental in Paris, starting with luggage. The traveler must avoid putting bags or clothes on furniture with fabric or upholstery; instead, they should put them on a tiled floor, as in a kitchen or a bathroom. The easiest way is to place the suitcases in the bathroom while showering, wash clothes at 60 ° C (or give them to the laundry), and put them in the dryer. For unwashable sweaters at high temperatures, enclose them in an airtight bag and put them in the freezer for 48 hours at -20 ° C.
Stop Bedbugs in Their Tracks: Innovative Solutions and Protective Measures
Bed base traps
After suffering from bedbugs, a French student created a footboard with an ultra-smooth wall and a hollow ring at the top. "BedBug" company was born!
How does it work? The bed bugs climb up the footboard and fall into a small receptacle where they are trapped and unable to escape due to the ultra-smooth walls. The device must be on all bed legs. For €110, your four bedlegs come with rings that can be easily unclipped to check whether bedbugs are present. Then, place the ring in a hot water bath at 55° minimum if bedbugs are present.
Tip: Keep comforters and blankets off the floor and remove the bed from the wall.
Protective mattress cover
For extra protection, put on an anti-bed bug mattress cover.
Several manufacturers are offering anti-bed bug mattress covers (see Allopunaise). Take the time to do some research- it'll cost less than replacing the mattress!
What to do when discovering traces of bed bugs?
1. Inform the owner and building manager
Immediately alert the apartment owner, and if you live in a building, alert the owner and the building manager (Syndic de copropriété
). The goal is to prevent bed bugs from passing from one furnished apartment to another.
2. Vacuum Thoroughly
Vacuum everywhere! A powerful vacuum cleaner helps suck up large numbers of bedbugs and eggs. Use the vacuum cleaner's narrow nozzle to reach crevices, baseboards, and windowsills behind furniture and indoors.
Once the room is thoroughly cleaned, remove the bag from the vacuum cleaner, place it inside a garbage bag, and seal it before discarding it. It is very important to dispose carefully of the vacuum bag to prevent the infestation spreading.
3. Treat All Potential Hiding Spots
- Heat Method: Wash clothes and linens (including bed linen) at 60°C and dry them in a dryer. For items that cannot be washed, use freezing methods.
- Freezing Method: To kill bedbugs, place infested items in a freezer at -18°C to -25°C for at least three days. If you don't have a freezer, professional freezing services are available for 15€ to 20€ per 100L bag.
- Don't forget hidden spots: Treat shoes, bags, suitcases, books, and papers, as bedbugs can hide in these places too.
4. Using Sniffer Dogs for Detection
If bed bugs persist despite previous treatment, use a sniffer dog to pinpoint their source for better control. A specially trained detection dog can detect and locate bedbugs in only a few minutes. The Beagle is a good bed bug sniffer. They can detect bed bugs in every nook and cranny of the home. Thanks to its 225 million olfactory receptors, it has an exceptional sense of smell.
Preparation Before the sniffer dog arrives:
- Air out the room and close the windows to prevent draughts.
- Vacuum floors and remove all bedbug traps and attractants from detection zones.
- Avoid smoking, cooking, using air scents, candles, etc.
- If diatomaceous earth is present, vacuum it up and clean surfaces with clear water.
- Switch off heating, air conditioning, and ventilation.
Sniffer Dog Detection Process:
The sniffer dog will inspect the apartment, guided by an operator. When the dog indicates the presence of bedbugs, the operator will perform a visual inspection to confirm the findings. The inspection typically lasts between 30 minutes and one hour, depending on the size of the area.
The cost for a bedbug detection service using a sniffer dog:
- 150 euros for an area of up to 30 m²
- 190 euros for an area between 31 and 60 m²
- 230 euros for an area between 61 and 90 m²
5. Effective Bedbug Products
Diatomaceous Earth: This natural product contains sharp microparticles that cause bedbugs to dehydrate and die upon contact.
Bedbug Insurance in France
Bedbug Insurance is now available as a supplement to tenant's Home Insurance or non-occupant owner's insurance. It's an option you need to ask your insurance company about. Luko, for example, offers this option.
What is covered by the bedbug insurance? Professional pest control, up to €300 intervention costs, and one night's hotel accommodation, including breakfast!
Who's responsible for the bedbugs problem in France? Landlords or tenants?
It depends! Find out the many situations that can occur:
The landlord is responsible for paying for the bedbug treatment.
Suppose the tenant stayed in the rental apartment for less than a year; the landlord must demonstrate that the bedbug infestation is due to the tenant, or else the landlord will cover expenses for bed bug treatment, for the bedbugs may have been in the apartment before the tenant moved in. Moreover, suppose bed bugs infest multiple flats in the building. In that case, the bedbug issue is the building's responsibility rather than the tenant's.
The scent of a specially trained detector dog is the easiest and most reliable way to detect and locate bed bugs. The sniffer dog only needs a few minutes to find bedbugs in an apartment or hotel room. The owner can defend themselves by providing a "bed bug canine detection" certificate that is negative and dated before the rental (Costs around 200€ ).
The tenant is responsible for paying for the bedbug treatment
On the other hand, if the tenant has been occupying the rental accommodation for more than a year and their apartment is the only one affected by bedbugs in the entire building, the tenant is responsible for paying the expenses of bed bug treatment. Additionally, the landlord could provide evidence that the tenant brought the bed bugs into the apartment, such as a negative bed bug detection certificate conducted before the tenant's move-in. In that case, the tenant must pay for the bedbug treatment.
How long does a landlord have to get rid of bed bugs?
If the rental accommodation does not meet the required standards of decent housing, such as with the presence of bedbugs, the tenant can ask the owner to make necessary adjustments to get rid of the bedbugs. In France, if the owner does not respond within two months, the tenant can complain to the Departmental Conciliation Commission. The tenant can also appeal to the judge.
How can a landlord prove that the tenant has brought bed bugs?
Indeed, it is complicated to prove that it is the tenant's fault for bringing bedbugs. One potential solution could be to conduct a bedbug inspection at the entry inventory (état des lieux d'entrée), explicitly indicating the absence of bedbugs in the rental accommodation.
Other ways to prove that the tenant has brought the bedbugs into the apartment is when the tenant has lived in the rental accommodation for more than a year, and their apartment is the single one in the entire building with bedbugs. Then, it becomes possible to prove the tenant's fault for introducing the bedbugs into the apartment.
What to do if my apartment building has bedbugs?
As a tenant, if bed bugs are present in the common areas of the building, you must inform your landlord of the bed bug problem. Then the landlord will be responsible for calling the building manager, and the co-ownership will be in charge of the costs of bedbug treatment.
Can I terminate my lease if there are bedbugs in my apartment?
In France, the tenant has the right to terminate the lease at any time by giving a notice of leave at least one month before without giving any reason.
Can you be evicted for bed bugs?
If they are proven guilty, eviction from the apartment for bedbugs could happen because of their degradation of the rental property.
Since the tenant is responsible for the daily maintenance of the rental accommodation during the lease term, the tenant's negligence can cause damage to the property, and severe bed bug problems may also cause the lease termination. However, the owner has to follow the legal eviction procedure, and the eviction procedure is not the same depending on whether a termination clause is present in the lease agreement.
Whoever is responsible for the bed bugs, whether landlord or tenant, don't panic, there are many ways to fight bed bugs these days. And remember to prevent the problem by taking good habits when traveling.
Sources: Dogtector, Anil, Badbugs.fr
Photo by Greg Rivers
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