Bed Bugs: A Class Act(ion)

According to ConsumerAffairs.com, residents in two Des Moines, Iowa apartment buildings are banding together to file a Class Action lawsuit against their management company. Over 250 residents of the buildings, which are situated a block away from each other, are alleging that their management company has,

"...failed to properly address the problem."

The article also alleges that over 250 residents have suffered “unconscionable and substandard living conditions” as a result of this infestation, and that the company which manages these buildings was initially skeptical of these complaints, blaming them on,

"...residents' hygiene, according to the complaint."

Both of these buildings house mostly elderly or disabled residents, making this story that much more unfortunate. Not only is the action, which has been brought under Iowa's new consumer protection law, seeking demands of $7.4 million in damages for the residents, but it is also seeking to have the building fumigated immediately, and requiring that the management company be legally obligated to warn future tenants prior to renting out additional units in the apartment.

Should these tenants win against their management company, it would undoubtedly set a legal precedent future cases of this sort brought up between tenants and landlords.

How to Mitigate the Influence of Bed Bugs When Moving

Today's New York Daily News has a concise yet informative article about the influence of bed bugs on the real estate market in New York. Though they are obviously a different breed of vermin, this article likens them to rats and mice, assuming that bed bugs are becoming so commonplace these days that a city building would be more likely than not to have dealt with them at one point or another. The author, real estate lawyer Jerry Feeney, infuses a trickle of humor in his explanation, helping to diffuse the issue:

"To say that some people in the city have become obsessed with bedbugs is an understatement. Since the waterfall of articles about our latest addition to the metropolitan rodent landscape (save the emails, I know they aren’t rodents) clients cannot stop worrying about them."

Truth.

But what really makes Feeney's explanation stand out is the worthwhile advice that he offers, which any prospective buyer in New York City should definitely take into consideration:

"So when addressing this issue, new buyers should be more concerned that the building has an active, professional extermination program and regularly inspects for the presence of vermin and, yes, bedbugs, and remediate these promptly and effectively. Simply asking if there has been an infestation and rejecting such a building because of it, is short sighted and really misses the point. There is not much that can be done about them, so just hope you don’t get them, just like the rest of us."

Truth. Repeated.

Bed Bugs...Coming Soon to a Publication Near You

Looks like yesterday's New York Times article spawned a chain reaction of buzzy bed bug chatter. Today's Daily Intel section in New York Magazine covered the article, discussing the irony of something cute being associated with bed bugs:

"Who would have thought that the newest way to combat bedbug infestations would not only be way more efficient than human exterminators, but would also be ... super cute?!"

Of course by the end of the article, the writer does draw the conclusion that the thought of bed bugs feeding on the handler's arm does kinda detract (and eventually cancel out) that whole cuteness sentiment that had previously been assigned. Sigh.

Next Gothamist takes a slightly less biased approach with their coverage, choosing to highlight the human interest side of the article, giving it that slice of life feeling.

And lastly, not even linking to yesterday's article, the New York Observer published the unsightly news that Vornado Realty is being sued again after bed bugs have since returned to the Hotel Pennsylvania for infestation #2 after a group of tourists sued and settled for $100,000 with the hotel last year after receiving bites. Pricey bites.

Bed Bug Detecting Dogs Sniffing Their Way Into the New York Times

Today's New York Times has an informative and aptly titled article, 'Dogs That Detect Bed Bugs,' that discusses not just the dogs that do the detecting work, but also the enormous impact bed bugs are having on real estate and the moving industry. Currently featured in a prime-time spot on the homepage of NYTimes.com:


(Middle-right of the page under Home & Garden heading)

The three-paged article relates,

"Increasingly, real estate lawyers are urging buyers in contract to inspect apartments before they close, and in their advertising, many pest control companies exhort would-be tenants to “inspect before you rent.”

Makes sense, doesn't it? You wouldn't buy a used car without confirming it's condition beforehand now would you? Inspecting before renting or buying is something we've been encouraging increasingly to help give people who are dealing with moving an unburdened peace of mind.

In talking about how these dogs get the job done, we learn that they,

"...detect the scent of a bug or an egg;"

and it is then,

"...up to an exterminator, said Mr. Ecker, to visually confirm the presence of bedbugs in the spots a dog has noted."

Trained to detect exclusively for the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs, the dogs who are certified at places like NESDCA reply solely on their olfactory sense for detection. Visual confirmation will then be up to the exterminator present, but is often more difficult with bed bugs' habitual tendency to burrow deep inside cracks and crevices.

Lastly, the article then touches upon input from Upper West Side Council Member, Gale Brewer, who they refer to as a self-appointed bed bug evangelist in her successful efforts to form New York's first ever Bed Bug Advisory board, who came together earlier this year. Click HERE to see our interview with Gale Brewer from earlier this year, where she shares her ideas and contributions on how the city can stop these bugs from being such a prevalent issue.

Visit our New Online Store!

We've recently launched our brand new online store with intentions of providing people with a trusted venue to help deal with all aspects of bed bug-related issues. We're kicking things off for the store by featuring a range of different Protect-A-Bed products that have patented zipper technology and have been safely designed to keep you completely bed bug free. Currently, items like mattress encasements, box-spring encasements, and pillow protectors are up on the site. We'll be continuing to add new products that encourage bed bug safety and detection so drop by and check us out soon.

Also, we will be offering free shipping on UPS Ground and same day delivery in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens on orders over $200 that are received before noon on weekdays.