What Must Landlords Do? (continued)
December 25, 2020
• Provide tenants with at least 24-hours notice before entering a unit
to inspect, remediate or monitor it for bed bugs;
• Provide any tenants in units affected by a bed bug complaint a
written notice of the pest management professional’s determination
of whether there is a bed bug infestation within five business days of
when you receive it;
• Provide all tenants in a building notification of results of an
investigation of the presence of bed bugs in common areas of that
building;
• Obtain bed bug monitoring services for 12 months after an
infestation has been remediated, and if the unit is leased to a new
tenant during the monitoring period, explain the monitoring
activities to the new tenant and continue monitoring; and
• Maintain a written record for two years of all bed bug complaints
and control measures provided, including reports of chemicals and
other remedies used by the pest management professional and any
other reports prepared by the pest management professional.
Who Must Pay for Remediation?
The landlord is responsible for hiring pest control professionals to investigate bed bug
complaints and eliminate infestations. The landlord is responsible for the full cost if the
infestation is reported within 365 days after “lease commencement” (the first day you are
permitted to live in the rental unit) or within 180 days after bed bugs were found in an
adjoining unit. After this time period, the landlord and tenant share in reasonable costs
for the pest control services.
Exception: A tenant who lives in housing managed by the Philadelphia Housing Authority
or who pays rent with government vouchers or subsidies is not responsible for a share of
the costs.