HUD Guidelines on Bed Bug Control

Dugas Pest Control provides extermination services for real estate inspections Bed bugs can be a serious problem, especially in densely populated areas (such as large cities) as well as buildings such as theaters, hotels, apartment and other housing complexes where people are in close proximity to each other.

Housing apartments and complexes (condos, federal housing, nursing homes, etc.) present a particular set of problems because of the shared walls between rooms.  Bed bugs can easily migrate from room to room, making containment difficult without sealing up an entire wing for treatment.

So if you live in one of these larger buildings, or happen to own or manage one, you should be aware of the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) guidelines for dealing with bed bug infestations, and they adjust these guidelines to meet the current conditions of infestations.

Below are the following guidelines for how HUD plans to keep bed bugs out of homes:

–      Raising awareness through education on the prevention of bed bugs

–      Inspecting infested areas and the spaces around these areas

–      After a trip, checking for signs of infestation on clothes and luggage

–      When secondhand items are purchased, they should be inspected thoroughly before they are brought into the home

–      If an infestation is suspected, the pest should be properly identified

–      All pest infestations should be recorded with the date and location

–      Clutter should be kept clean to minimize bed bug hiding spots

–      Eliminating bed bug habitats

–      All pest infestations should be cleaned appropriately

–      Pesticides should be used according to their label instructions

–      Following up with pesticide treatments and inspections

There are also some differences across public housing, so it’s important for tenants to be familiar with the responsibilities of the owner. For example, The Office of Public and Indian Housing says that tenants who report a bed bug problem should be contacted within 24 hours of the report and will receive information about the control and prevention of bed bugs. If an infestation is confirmed, treatment will start within 5 days, and treatment will be covered.

For tenants that reside in apartments or condominiums, it’s important they review their contract to be familiar with the details of bed bug infestations, such as whether the tenant or landlord is responsible for the treatments.

With Section 8 homes however, the contract is less detailed, and measures for bed bug infestations must be discussed with the owner.

Where Does Louisiana Rank on the Worst Bed Bugs List?

Dugas Pest Control provides bed bug extermination services at commercial properties in Louisiana When it comes to the itchy, crawly, blood-sucking bed bugs that keep people up at night, it’s always the big cities that are hardest hit. There are two reasons for this. The first is that there are more people living and working in large cities, creating a greater chance for bed bug infestations. Second, people travel to large cities, so there is a higher chance that someone from another state or country will bring bed bugs along with them.

Bed Bugs Found in Large Cities across the U.S.

So where does Louisiana rank on the worst bed bug lists? For once, none of the major Louisiana cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge are near the top of a negative list – in this case, the worst states for bed bug infestations.

The states that continually top the charts according to pest control companies include the following:

  • Cincinnati
  • New York City
  • Chicago
  • Detroit
  • Washington DC
  • Columbus, OH
  • San Francisco

These findings are based on the number of treatments that have been needed in these locations.

A Growing Problem in Louisiana

Even though we aren’t high on the “worst” list, Louisiana is not exempt from bed bug infestations, and these problems are becoming more common across the world, Louisiana included. At Dugas Pest Control, we work solely with Louisiana residents, so we’ve seen our fair share of bed bug infestations, even if they still fall under the radar compared to cities like New York City and Chicago. Nevertheless, all bed bug infestations are the same: difficult to get rid of.

Louisiana’s warm, sub-tropical climate is always favorable to bug species, and with large cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge where many people travel to, there is always a risk of bed bugs. Although we don’t want to it to happen, we expect to see more cases of infestations over time. In 2010, the bed bug problem started creeping toward our state. This same year, there were 16 LA hotels that had complaints against them for bed bugs.

So when asked the question of whether or not Louisiana will be as badly affected by bed bugs as large cities like Boston or Cincinnati one day, we can only assume that it’s a strong possibility.