questions & answers

Question: My next door neighbor had bed bugs, now we do, we are connected condos, 25 units. Who is responsible for extermating these little buggers? Tenant or landlord? We have tried with home remedies, the land Lord did have one bed room exterminated, but doesn't want to pay to have the whole unit done he says it's up to us to do it. We are on SSI and social security and can not afford to have it done professionally, what are our rights?

Answer: The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. Title 33 Chapter 10) prohibits landlords from knowingly renting out dwellings with current bedbug infestations (A.R.S. 33-1319). It does not specifically require landlords to pay to exterminate bedbugs discovered during the course of a tenancy. Landlords are, however, required to “do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition” (A.R.S. 33-1324) and to ensure that each tenant “conduct himself ... in a manner that will not disturb his neighbors’ peaceful enjoyment of the premises” (A.R.S. 33-1341). Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules about who should do what to remove a bed bug infestation. If you would like to speak with an attorney about your particular situation, there are links to free and low-cost legal services on this website.