What To Know About Bed Bug Legislation In Denver

With bed bug populations on the rise in urban areas since the 1990s, local governments have taken to promoting public awareness about the signs of an infestation, methods to reduce the chances of transference, and how to address problems quickly. 

However, these measures have not been effective enough to halt the spread of bed bugs throughout the great Denver area, and so legislation has been passed by Gov. Polis and the Colorado State Legislature to create a legal responsibility on the part of both the tenant and the landlord in the case that bed bugs are identified in a rental property.

In today’s blog from the bed bug heat treatment experts Denver trusts — A 2 B Solutions — we will provide a summary of the legislation detailing the responsibilities of both the landlord and tenant, making sure that you know your rights, responsibilities, and the best way to address the problem quickly and effectively.

If you are a landlord or tenant who has discovered bed bugs on your premises, follow the guidelines below, and then, get in touch with the team of bed bug inspectors and heat treatment pros at A 2 B Solutions today.

The Short And Sweet Summary

When Gov. Jared Polis signed HB19-1328, the rules for reporting and dealing with bed bugs in residential rentals changed. For those without much time, here is the ultra-brief synopsis of what the bill requires from tenants and landlords.

Tenants

Once a tenant has discovered signs of bed bugs, they must provide written electronic notice — either the email address, electronic portal or phone number specified in the rental agreement signed by both parties — or in the case of a lease signed previous to the passing of SB19-1328, via whatever method has been used by the landlord to communicate with the tenant previously. The tenant should make sure to retain the proof of the notice including the date and time sent or communicated.

Landlords

Once a landlord has received appropriate notice from their tenant, they have 96 hours (4 days) to hire a professional pest management company to inspect and treat the bed bug problem in the noted unit and any contiguous, or adjoining units.

The Longer Version Of The Law Summary

Here is a more thorough explanation of the law. However, should you have questions, we advise you to refer to the actual contents of the bill and seek legal counsel regarding the application of the law as it applies to you because while A 2 B Solutions is Denver’s trusted bed bug heat treatment team, we’re not lawyers.

Tenant Must Provide Notice

As stated above, it is the tenant’s responsibility to provide electronic written notice or other notice according to the methods used by the landlord to communicate with the tenant.

The Landlord Must Inspect

As stated above, the landlord has 96 hours to inspect the dwelling in question. Tenants should expect that an inspection is coming and work to accommodate it within reasonable or prescribed means per their lease, but landlords must enter the property within 4 days.

If Bed Bugs Are Found…

An inspection may be conducted by the landlord or by a professional pest management company. However, if bed bugs are determined to be present in any number, the inspection process must continue on to adjoining, or congruous, units. Notice per the lease agreements of other tenants should be followed, but tenants must provide access within reasonable means.

The Landlord Must Cover The Costs

Unless otherwise provided, the landlord is responsible for all costs of inspections and treatments for the presence of bed bugs.

Notice For Treatment Must Be Given

Reasonable written or electronic notice must be given by the landlord to notify tenants of inspections and treatment days and times so entry into the dwelling can be accommodated. 

Tenants Must Reasonably Comply

Once the process has started, it is important that tenants realize that they have a legal responsibility to provide access to the dwelling and the property within it. Landlords will give reasonable notice per the lease agreement or the prescriptions of the law, but a tenant who is found to unreasonably deny access to a dwelling for inspection or treatment may be held liable for the costs of bed bug inspections and treatments moving forward. 

Do Not Remove Property From The Dwelling

Bed bugs can and do get into just about anything that has a textured surface. As such, tenants who are having a dwelling inspected will be informed by a qualified inspector — in some cases, this may be the landlord or property manager — as to what items of property are infested. Such items must be left in the dwelling during treatment, and any items that are determined to contain bed bugs may not be disposed of in a common area where there would be a risk of contaminating other units.

Use A 2 B Solutions To Quickly Identify and Eliminate Your Bed Bug Problem in Denver

If you have bed bugs in your rental, follow the law, and then, get in touch with the professionals at A 2 B Solutions for effective bed bug heat treatments that will eliminate your infestation.



source https://www.a2bsolutionsinc.com/what-to-know-about-new-bed-bug-legislation-in-denver/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is Having Disaster Insurance a Good Idea?

Image
Thousands of people are left homeless, each year, due to natural disasters, such as floods or storms. For example, in 2005, hurricane Katrina caused extraordinary damage of about $130 billion. The most recent event, Hurricane Dorian (2019), affected Florida, Georgia, South & North Carolina, causing tens of thousands of coastal US residents to be evacuated inland. Earthquakes are not as common, luckily, but we must not ignore them either. If you are not sure whether it is actually worth to pay for a disaster insurance policy, make sure to get as much information as you can on the local climate. This is quite important to do, even if you lived in the area for a long time, because global warming is not a myth, and severe weather phenomena can hit pretty much everywhere. Respected A2B Solutions tell us that by recognizing how and when past local disasters occurred, is the best indicator of whether you can expect disaster to strike again, and influence your decision to purchase disa...
Read more

How to Tell if Your Ceiling has Water Damage

Image
If you are unlucky enough, you might find yourself in the position of collecting water in a pan, during a storm that damaged your roof, or at least spotting some water signs on your ceiling. Severe or discreet, water infiltration in the ceiling is bad and has to be taken care of promptly. Identifying the signs of water damage in your ceiling is not always easy, especially in early stages. You must understand that water infiltrates slowly sometimes. It takes only a small crack in the roof cover, allowing a small amount of rainwater to sweep in – and you have the recipe of a potential disaster, which will occur sooner or later, depending on how quickly water finds its way through the attic, the insulation layers and the concrete or other materials your ceiling is made of. When water reaches your ceiling, it may still take a while until it comes off from behind the plaster and starts dripping. In the meantime, however, there will be signs indicating that your ceiling has water damage. ...
Read more

DIY vs Professional Water Damage Repair Solutions for Homeowners

Image
Water damage can wreak havoc on the state of your house. Although your home may look dry, there may be some more complex hidden issues implied. Relying on a professional team can help you save money and time in the long run. Fixing water damage can be a very complicated thing to do. There are a lot of factors involved, such as the exact source of water, if the water was pure or contaminated, and which will be the best tools to remediate the situation. Although DIY solutions may help you save money on a short-term basis, not using the right type of equipment can often have disastrous consequences, such as severe injuries or further deterioration of your water installations or other elements in your home. On the other hand, professional teams usually have all the necessary equipment for making the job easier, faster and a lot safer. Counting on specialists in emergency flood restoration near me is the right thing to do for your safety and home maintenance. Apart from the fact that w...
Read more