CanI be held responseable for the extermination of bedbugs?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
CanI be held responseable for the extermination of bedbugs?
Asked on November 14, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Arizona
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
While laws vary from state-to-state, the general rule is that the landlord must pay for the extermination of bedbugs. Further, AZ law prohibits landlords from renting units known to have bedbug infestations. It also prohibits them from allowing tenants to move in any items known to be infested with bedbugs.
You should be aware that every residential lease has what is called an "implied warranty of habitability". So if your rental unit is not liveable, you can: repair an deduct for the cost of extermination, withhold rent until the problem is solved, or terminate the lease.
However, you need to be careful about pursuing any of these remedies. You could find yourself in trouble if you do not follow all correct legal procedures. At this point you should consult with an attorney who handles landlord-tenant matters or speak with a tenant's rights organization.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.