Bills would crack down on bedbugs in hotels, resi buildings

Hotels would be required to make inspections every 6 months

Rafael Espinal and bedbugs
Rafael Espinal and bedbugs

New legislation aimed at curtailing bedbug outbreaks across New York City will be introduced in the City Council on Tuesday.

One bill will require hotels to have exterminators in to inspect all rooms for the bugs every six months, the New York Daily News reported. A second bill will force the city to publish reports every year that outline the number of bedbug complaints and violations in apartment buildings, along with the average time it takes for infestations to be resolved. Under the new laws, the city would also have to publish a map — which would be updated every three months — showing the locations of bedbug complaints and whether or not they have been resolved.

Council member Rafael Espinal is behind the legislation.

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“Everyone hates bedbugs — they prey on human flesh and cause huge expenses,” he said, according to the paper. “Tenants, homeowners and business pay hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to exterminate an infestation and replace damaged furniture and clothing.”

Under current laws, landlords are required to notify potential tenants about any bedbug infestations that have happened in the past year.

In September, “This American Life” creator Ira Glass and his wife were sued by their condo board, which alleged the couple had failed to address a bedbug infestation in their apartment. [NYDN]Miriam Hall