As a result of the increased infestation of bed bugs in the United States, HUD published a final rule amending its regulations governing the housing of persons on and after June 9, 2010. Specifically, these changes are to the requirements for treatment: for single family homes and multifamily properties containing three or more units. The New Jersey Bed Bug Bill (S-976) has been passed into law by Governor Christie and officially become the bill for The State of New Jersey. This bill was scheduled to be signed into law on October 21, 2011, but was postponed until October 26th.

Nj Bed Bug Laws

Introduction

Bed bugs have been making a comeback in recent years, and people in New Jersey aren’t exempt from them. They’ve invaded homes, apartments and even offices. Thankfully, New Jersey has bed bug laws that protect tenants, landlords and employees when handling this issue. Read on to learn what the law is for each part:

Nj Bed Bug Laws

There are a number of different New Jersey laws that protect tenants, landlords and employees when dealing with bed bugs. These laws include:

• The Bed Bug Control Act (NJSA Section 2A:18-73)
• The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (NJSA Section 56:8-1), and
• The Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. §201 et seq.).

Nj Bed Bug Law Against Landlords

Under New Jersey law, landlords must provide written notice of the bed bug infestation. The written notice should include:

• The name and contact information of the licensed pest control operator(s) that will be used to treat the premises.
• An explanation that the tenant can request an inspection by a certified building inspector or other person trained in evaluating for conditions conducive to infestations.

My Renters Refuse To Let Me Inspect For Bed Bugs

You can’t force your tenants to let you inspect for bed bugs.

You can’t force them to sign a waiver.

You can’t force them to pay for an exterminator.

You can’t force them to pay for the cost of the inspection (though they may be required by law to do so).

How Do I Eliminate Bed Bugs If I’m A Landlord

If you suspect you have bed bugs, it is important to call a reputable pest control company immediately. The company will come out and inspect your home for signs of bed bugs. They will also conduct tests to determine if the insects are present in your home. Pest control companies will have special equipment that can detect even one bug and eliminate them completely from your property.

Good habits are essential when dealing with this issue because they prevent future issues from occurring in the first place. Below we’ll discuss some of these helpful practices that people can follow when they want their homes to remain free of pests like these tiny blood suckers:

• Steam clean all mattresses and box springs on hot temperatures with an upholstery attachment every three months before putting them back into service again after cleaning;
• Wash all bedding once per week using hot water on high heat settings (130 degrees Fahrenheit); this should be done after washing as well;

Bed Bug Laws On Tenants & Landlords

Under the New Jersey law, landlords are required to provide tenants with a bed bug-free apartment. This means that they must deal with any bed bug infestation in a manner that is safe, humane, and respectful of the tenant’s rights; this includes ensuring that tenants are not being subjected to unreasonable health risks or being overtaxed by excessive costs.

The statute requires that landlords give notice of any pest control treatment before it begins, as well as informing all affected parties about its details in writing within five days of completion.

Landlords may be fined $250 for violating these provisions (or up to $1,000 if it occurs more than once).

Nj Bed Bug Law Against An Employer

The New Jersey Bed Bug Law Against An Employer

An employer is required to provide a bed bug free workplace. This means that you are protected against having to deal with unwanted, annoying and potentially dangerous pests in your office or workplace. If an employer knows there are bed bugs in the building, they must take action to remedy the situation. If an employee contracts any skin conditions as a result of their work environment being infested with these insects then they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

|>Employers are required to pay for bed bug treatment if the issue is their fault. For example: if an employee brings her own furniture into work but fails to inform anyone about it being infested with bedbugs, then she cannot sue her employer for physical injuries caused by this lack of knowledge since it wasn’t their fault and therefore not something that could reasonably have been anticipated by management teams at large corporations such as Wal-Mart (for example). On other hand though – if someone works at a small company where no one else has ever had an issue like this before…and then suddenly one day everyone starts getting sick from contact dermatitis….well then maybe we should talk about some sort of protection plan going forward?

How Can I Get Rid Of Bed Bugs At Work

• How can I get rid of bed bugs at work?

If you think you have bedbugs, it’s important to contact your landlord and/or the building management immediately. They may have a plan for treating your apartment or renting out an exterminator. If not, it’s up to you to find ways to control the infestation yourself. The first step in this process is identifying what kind of bugs are infesting your home so that you know which treatments will be most effective against them (roach sprays won’t kill bedbugs). Once you’ve identified what type of insect is causing the problem, use one or more of these methods:

• Vacuum everything daily (especially mattresses)–this will help remove eggs from surfaces where they’re hiding
• Wipe down hard surfaces with rubbing alcohol–bedbugs hate this stuff and often die instantly when exposed
• Wash clothes at high temperatures every time they’re worn (do not dry clean)

New Jersey has laws that protect tenants, landlords and employees when dealing with bed bugs.

New Jersey has laws that protect tenants, landlords and employees when dealing with bed bugs. Landlords are required to provide notice to tenants of bed bug infestations, and it is the landlord’s responsibility to treat the problem. Tenants must cooperate with their landlords in this process. Employees of landlords who contract an infection while performing their job duties can file a workers’ compensation claim if they become sick because of the exposure to bed bugs.

Conclusion

We hope that our guide has been educational, informative and useful. Bed bugs can be a major problem for those who are affected by them, but there are laws in the state of New Jersey to protect tenants, landlords and employers when it comes to bed bugs. It’s important to know that you aren’t alone if you have a bed bug problem, and there are people who can help. If you need more information or advice on how to deal with bed bugs in your home or office, contact us at [email protected].