With the resurgence of bed bug infestations now hitting all 50 states, American citizens are going buggy for bed bug laws! Unfortunately, at times bed bug laws are drafted that protect one sector of the population more than another, and understandably, some people are going to cry foul.
In Arizona, state lawmakers are working at creating a new bed bug law that is intended to help protect renters and landlords alike. The pending measure was crafted by the Arizona Multihousing Association which is a landlord group in Arizona. Critics of the pending legislation think that the measure favors landlords and treats tenants unfairly.
If the measure were to pass, landlords would be required to keep their units free of bed bugs. They would also need to provide bed bug inspection services to an apartment within seven business days once they are notified of a potential infestation on the premises. Additionally, a landlord would not be allowed to knowingly rent any property that is infested with the bugs to new tenants. If a landlord fails to provide bed bug treatment to a bed bug infested apartment unit, tenants would be allowed to withhold rental payments, up to $500 or ½ of a month’s rent – whichever is higher, to pay for bed bug treatments. So far, so good, except that bed bug treatments could run considerably higher for some folks, as multiple treatments by a pest control expert are usually required to rid any home of an infestation. Another point of contention is that there is no mention in the measure about a tenant’s ability to obtain reimbursement for potential loss of property, but I guess that can ultimately be decided by the court system.
Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.