We wrote last week about an off campus apartment complex that is infested with bed bugs at Portland State University. Students that were living there found the bed bugs, then alerted management who hired a sub-par pest control company that did not treat the apartments the correct way, claiming the products would only work for one week. When the students demanded their security deposit back, the management refused. They did not pay rent and some students proceed to move out, however they were locked out of their apartments until rent was paid. PSU legal services are assisting the students in the lawsuit, but until then students are left without a place to live. Watch the video below from KGW Portland.
At Portland State University in Oregon, students residing in one of the more popular apartment complexes say many apartments in the complex are infested with bed bugs. Residents that spoke to the Daily Vanguard say that the building management has tried several treatment options, but none of which work for more than a week.
“I had to go to the doctor because of an allergic reaction; the bites were swelling to the size of eggs.” – Kris Thomason, Resident
Fumigation has been used on the premises on a per-room basis, which will make bed bugs relocate to different rooms, making the infestation worse. Spraying has also been done, but they have been told it will only be effective for a week.
Apartment management has not been helpful at all during this problem. They will not allow students that have elected to move of to retrieve their things unless they finish paying rent, or pay the early move-out fee. Bed bugs are still present in many of the rooms, but students are turning to bed bug mattress covers which will prevent any bed bugs living in the mattress to live any longer. However, bed bugs can live in the wall, behind picture frames, and even in electrical sockets! Students are turning to PSU for legal assistance in this situation.
As the bed bug resurgence becomes more popular in the United States, we will see more and more of these situations. Many questions must be answered by the courts on whose responsibility it is to pay for the treatment. Bed bugs are not normally covered in basic pest control programs that apartment complexes are on contract for.
If you run an apartment complex and think you may have a bed bug problem, please contact our offices. We employ a K-9 bed bug inspection dog so the infestations can be found without treating rooms that do not have bed bugs in them.
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