Bedbugs

Pursuant to Administrative Code sections 27-2018.1 and 27-2018.2, property owners must:

• Maintain their property free from pests, including bedbugs
• File an Annual Bedbug Report with HPD and provide this information to tenants
• Provide a disclosure to new tenants under New York State law

Left untreated, bedbugs can spread quickly in multi-dwelling housing. Both the housing and health codes require that property owners address infestations promptly. The surest strategies to keep bedbugs from spreading are prevention, early detection and rapid treatment. As a landlord, the first action you should take is to conduct an inspection of the reported condition. Knowing what to look for is key!

Integrated Pest Management is the safest and most effective way to manage pests. It includes learning about pests and frequently checking for and eliminating conditions that can cause or sustain them. It involves the use of non-chemical methods first and then, if necessary, the use of pesticides. For more information, visit the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) website.

Below are three helpful resources for tenants, property owners/agents and homeowners wanting to know more about how bedbugs thrive, how to recognize and inspect for their presence, steps to take to prevent them from infesting a home, how to safely rid an area of bedbugs if they do occur, and how to select and work with a pest management professional.

• The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) Bedbug website
• HPD’s online training on bedbugs  
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Bedbugs: Get Them Out and Keep Them Out

Complaints

Complaints
HPD provides a special service for the inspection of bedbugs: HPD’s Canine Unit. The beagles are available to assist a team of Code Enforcement Inspectors who have been trained to work with them. The Canine Unit will respond to bedbug complaints where the 311 operator has confirmed that the tenant would like to have the inspection performed by a dog; although not every such complaint can be inspected by the Canine Unit. The dogs were trained at an accredited facility to alert by sitting when they detect live bedbugs or viable eggs. The findings are confirmed by visual inspection before a violation is issued.

Violations
If the HPD inspector finds bedbugs, the property owner is issued an HPD Notice of Violation (NOV) ordering that the condition be addressed.

When a NOV is issued by HPD, the property owner also receives a DOHMH Order of the Commissioner. The Commissioner’s order provides property owners more detail on the requirements for addressing bedbugs, including:

1. Inspect the apartment(s) cited for bedbugs.
2. If you find a bedbug infestation in the apartment(s), inspect all units adjacent to, above and below the infested units, as well as all common areas; and retain the services of a pest management professional certified and registered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to take all measures necessary to remove bedbug infestation where found.
3. Keep a record of all actions taken in compliance with the Order.

Certification of HPD's NOV is the only required notification back to the City that the condition has been corrected as instructed. There is no response directly to the DOHMH. The HPD NOV Certification of Correction requires a sworn statement that the above corrective actions have been taken, in compliance with the DOHMH Commissioner’s Order.

For information about completing your certification documents for HPD, you can contact your Borough Service Center or certify online using eCertification.

Bedbug Reporting Requirements 

Pursuant to Administrative Code sections 27-2018.1 and 27-2018.2 (Local Law 69 of 2017), all multiple dwelling property owners must attempt to obtain the bedbug infestation history from the tenant or unit owner, including whether eradication measures were employed for a bedbug infestation. This information must be filed annually with HPD through the Annual Bedbug Report filing application. Note: You must establish a new user account for this application (you cannot use your existing PROS or eCertification accounts). The online application will only allow validly registered property owners and managing agents of multiple dwellings to disclose bedbug infestation history. A building's property registration must be current. If you have not registered your property, please do so by visiting Property Registration.  

From December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, property owners are required to report the bedbug infestation history for November 1, 2018 through October 31, 2019. After this current filing period, property owners will be required to file between December 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Failure to file during the period may result in a violation for failure to file. You can address the violation by filing at any time.  

Pursuant to the law, HPD will make the submitted information publicly available through HPDONLINE.

Property owners will be required to report the following information:

1. The number of dwelling units;
2. The number of dwelling units, as reported or otherwise known to the owner, than had a bedbug infestation during the previous year;
3. The number of dwelling units, as reported or otherwise known to the owner, in which eradication measure were employed during the previous year for a bedbug infestation;
4. The number of dwelling units reported in number 3 that had a bedbug infestation after such eradication measure were employed in such units. 

When submitting, the owner will certify that either:

• A copy of the most electronic form will be distributed to each tenant of the building upon each lease renewal or the commencement of a new lease issued; or
• A copy of such form will be posted in a prominent location within the building within 60 days of the filing and that the owner will maintain a record that a copy of such form was prominently posted within 60 days of the filing of the information with HPD. 

Once this filing with HPD is completed, in addition to taking the action which the owner certifies to (either providing the filing to each tenant, upon commencement of a new lease and with each renewal lease, or posting in a prominent location within such multiple dwelling), the owner must either distribute or post a brochure that provides information about the prevention, detection, and removal of bedbugs. 

Please note that New York State law requires property owners to disclose bedbug infestation history dating back one year to new tenants through the Bedbug Disclosure Form. For more information, visit the NYS Homes and Community Renewal website.

Questions?
See the Bedbugs Annual Report FAQs.