Bed Bug Registry is a comprehensive, online database that stores over 100 records of New York City apartment buildings, condos and businesses that have a confirmed history of bed bug infestations. The Bed Bug Registry contains all the pertinent information about property managers and includes telephone numbers, physical addresses and addresses for all possible avenues of communication. All registration are submitted by residents, tenants and visitors to the bed bug registry. The bed bug registry registry serves to be a valuable support the real estate investors and property managers next to the apartment building of their properties. The investors and property management staff would be able to specify the report on instances of bed bugs in the apartments. The data is provided by the tenants as well as by other people in the house of a given building.

New York Bed Bug Registry

Introduction

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has launched a comprehensive bed bug registry for residential dwellings in New York City. The registry will contain information about bed bug infestations that have been reported to 311 and confirmed through the HPD inspection process. The public can search the registry by address, borough or zip code to find whether an apartment or building has had reports of bed bugs in the last year.

The need for this registry was identified after a survey conducted by HPD revealed that 80% of all bed bug complaints are generated from rental housing, with the remainder coming from owners or condo associations. The Registry is designed to increase awareness among landlords, property managers and tenants so everyone in the building can take steps to prevent or treat a potential infestation.

Has the Department received more bed bug complaints in recent years?

Yes, the Department has seen a significant increase in bed bug complaints. In 2017, it received nearly 2,000 reports of bed bug infestations—more than four times as many as it did in 2010. The city is working hard to prevent and treat bed bugs through education and legislation aimed at landlords who fail to maintain their properties’ cleanliness standards.

City agencies are also working together with community organizations such as Housing Works NYC, which provides free treatment services for residents with HIV/AIDS or other illnesses that make them more vulnerable to infections like those caused by insects such as mosquitoes or fleas (which carry diseases like Zika).

Why is the Department tracking bed bugs?

The Department is tracking bed bugs to:

• determine the extent of the problem
• determine how to best address the problem
• give residents the tools they need to prevent and treat a potential infestation, including information on what to do if you suspect you have bed bugs. In addition, tracking data also enables us to assess whether our prevention and treatment programs are working well for New Yorkers.

What are the signs of bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped and brown. They hide in cracks and crevices around the bedroom or any other area of the home that has a lot of clutter. Bed bugs come out at night to feed on human blood by piercing the skin with their mouthparts and sucking blood. They can spread quickly, but they’re difficult to control because they keep coming back even after you’ve tried using pesticides or steam cleaning your house.

Bed bugs aren’t known to transmit disease; however, unlike other parasites (which are often more visible) bed bugs’ bites cause people to itch and may cause mild swelling that lasts several days.

How are bed bugs spread?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They can be found in your home or hotel room, by crawling into your luggage, and even hitchhiking in your belongings. Unfortunately, once bed bugs get inside they can spread throughout a building very quickly.

Bed bugs are usually spread through travel (hotel stays), but they can also be picked up by visiting an infested location such as a friend’s house or apartment building. If you see any signs of bed bugs while staying at someone else’s place, it’s important to notify them before returning home so you don’t become a carrier of these pests!

How can residents prevent bed bugs?

Preventing bed bugs is as simple as avoiding bringing used furniture and second-hand items into your home. If you do bring in a previously used item, be sure to inspect it for signs of bed bugs. Even if you don’t see any signs, it’s still important to vacuum the item regularly in case any eggs or insects have been left behind from previous use. Additionally, make sure that all of your clothes and linens are freshly laundered before entering your home—don’t bring in anything that has been stored or worn by another person without being washed first!

What should residents do if their homes or apartments become infested with bed bugs?

Residents who suspect their homes or apartments may be infested with bed bugs should call 311 and request an inspection. If bed bugs are found, the landlord is responsible for treating the infestation. If the landlord does not treat the infestation, residents can hire a pest control company to treat the infestation.

It is important to note that even if you do not see any live bedbugs in your apartment or home, you could still have an active infestation that would require professional treatment by a trained pest control operator (PCO). Therefore, if you suspect that you have bed bugs in your unit, it is recommended that you contact 311 for assistance with determining whether or not there are live insects present in your home so that proper action can be taken as soon as possible.

Are there any resources that I can use to learn more about how to protect myself from, and treat a potential infestation of, bed bugs?

Are there any resources that I can use to learn more about how to protect myself from, and treat a potential infestation of, bed bugs?

Yes. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has developed informational videos on bed bug prevention and treatment. You can view these videos at [insert link to NYCDOHMH site] or by visiting our website at [insert link].

More information on the New York Bed Bug Registry can be found at www.nyc.gov/bedbugs, or by calling 311

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s 311 is a non-emergency information hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call or use their website to get information about the city’s housing laws. In addition to English, 311 also has operators who speak Spanish, Russian and other languages.

311 can be used to report bed bugs if you live in an apartment building that is covered by the New York City Housing Maintenance Code (HMC). If you are unsure whether your building is covered by HMC or not, check with your landlord or real estate agent before calling 311 with an issue regarding bed bugs.

Conclusion

For more information on the New York Bed Bug Registry, visit www.nyc.gov/bedbugs or call 311