Minneapolis expansion countdown: 5 days — 5th-most often asked advice: Bedbugs

With expansion of  our free tenant hotline service to all Minneapolis renters only 5 days away, we’ll count down each of the 5 days with information and advice on the top 5 issues renters call us about. Minneapolis renters will soon have access to this wealth of legal knowledge and practical advice stemming from 22 years of providing legal advocacy services to renters across Minnesota. More info about our Minneapolis expansion is here.

Today we’ll be sharing information about our 5th-most commonly called-about issue: Bedbugs.

Today’s topic:  Bedbugs. Many people don’t like to discuss bedbugs because it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing, but it’s important as a renter to inform your landlord about a problem as soon as possible. A bedbug problem in a specific apartment or rental unit does not necessarily mean the tenant is at fault—bedbugs can travel from unit to unit through walls or heating ducts, and they can even remain dormant for months, returning some time after a new tenant has moved in. The tenant has a responsibility to inform the landlord of a bedbug outbreak, and in most cases the landlord has the responsibility of treating the problem. But who has to pay for treatment?

Question: HOME Line has taken bedbug calls from 47 different counties around Minnesota.  The most common call we receive is the following:  The tenant discovered bedbugs and the landlord treated the problem.  Now, the tenant gets a bill for $800-$1,200.  Does the tenant have to pay the bill?

Answer:  Probably not.  The landlord would have to prove that the tenant somehow brought the bedbugs in “irresponsibly” (or on purpose).  This is a pretty tough thing for landlords to prove.  Obviously a tenant shouldn’t be bringing in a used mattress out of a dumpster—that would be “irresponsible” under the law, and would likely put them at risk of bedbugs and the costs associated with treatment. Besides very glaring examples like the mattress, it would generally be difficult for the landlord to prove that the tenant caused the bedbug problem.

Tenants should download our free form “repair request” letter available at this link—fill it out, keep a copy and give it to the landlord. The form letter states the law regarding a landlord’s duty to solve problems and fix repairs or infestations. Bedbug problems can often affect multiple units because of the nature of the pest—it can be useful to talk to neighbors about it and encourage multiple people to send a letter so the problem is dealt with building-wide instead of individual units.

For advice about a situation similar to this that you, a family member, or a friend is facing, please contact our hotline directly: 612-728-5767 or email an attorney here. Minneapolis renters can learn more about our expansion here.