My Neighbor Has Bed Bugs – Now What?

Apartment-living in Houston is on the rise. Amenities, cost-free maintenance, and affordable rent make the decision to move into an apartment an easy one. While there are many advantages, there are also plenty of disadvantages that renters experience. One of these disadvantages is pests. We’re not just talking about your noisy upstairs neighbor, we’re referring to bed bugs.

Why are apartment buildings more likely to have bed bugs?

Simply put, there are more bed bug cases in apartment complexes because there are more people. Bed bugs gravitate towards busy places for two reasons: hosts and shelter. Hotels, airports, and movie theaters are at a greater risk of having bed bugs than other establishments for this very reason.

Unlike single-family homes, shared walls and common spaces make it easy for bed bugs to move in – rent-free! These creative critters can navigate through cracks, crevices, electrical outlets, and even pipes making it easy to spread quickly from unit to unit.

Remember: Bed bugs don’t discriminate.

The spread of bed bugs in apartment buildings often happen because people are embarrassed and don’t communicate that they have them. While diligence and regular inspection are important, cleanliness does not prevent bed bugs from choosing a host. If you are in the right place at the right time, a bed bug while hitchhike onto your belongings regardless of who you are.

We’ve listed some steps that you can take if your neighbor has or is suspected to have bed bugs. If you believe your unit has been infected, please contact your property manager right away.

What to do if your neighbor has bed bugs:

1. Inspect: Visually inspect your home’s furniture with a flashlight. Be sure to check your sofa, dressers, and nightstands in addition to your bed. Signs of bed bugs include small blood spots, caste skins of immature bed bugs, black spots that resemble black ink, and bed bugs themselves. Bed bugs are approximately the size of an apple seed and reddish brown in color.
2. Avoid Contact: Avoid contact with your neighbor(s) until the building has been cleared by a pest management professional. If they’re not cautious, your neighbor’s clothing or belongings may be carrying bed bugs.
3. Check Your Belongings: Check your belongings and shoes before entering your unit. Avoid setting any purses or shopping bags on the ground outside your door. If you enter your home through a hallway, it’s possible that bed bugs have infected the area.
4. Be Diligent: Contact your property manager to determine if a bed bug inspection and/or treatment is necessary. Since bed bugs live in cracks, electrical outlets, and wall voids, units that share a wall with an infected unit are at higher risk of bed bug infestations.

If you believe you have bed bugs in your apartment, it’s important to remember that it is not your fault. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, and can be picked up on a plane, in a hotel, at work, at the store, and even in a doctor’s office. Please communicate with your property manager right away to lessen the likelihood of them spreading to neighboring units.

Are you a property manager that needs bed bug inspection or treatment services for your property? Contact Holder’s Pest Solutions’ bed bug professionals at (281) 561-9999. We’ll come out to inspect the affected building and determine the best treatment plan for your property.