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Inspecting For Bed Bugs


Bed bugs are dining on more Texas apartment renters than ever before. To help control the growing problem most landlords in Texas now require renters to sign a bedbug addendum. It puts the burden of finding bedbugs in a vacant apartment on the person renting it.

“Inspect the apartment,” said Monica Malone, president of the Austin Pest Control Association and general manager of J&J Pest Control.

“I'd pull up one corner of the carpet in the bedroom and look under the tack strip. And I’d pop a couple of covers off the outlets, the lower ones especially,” said Malone.

She also recommends renters look along the ceiling line.

“People don't realize a lot of bed bugs will go up along the popcorn ceiling and cement their eggs to the popcorn ceiling because it's a rough surface,” said Malone.

You can also hire an inspector to see if any bed bugs are lurking in the apartment. The upfront cost could keep the bugs from eventually taking an even bigger bite out of your wallet.

Most standard lease agreements require renters to declare an apartment bedbug-free when they move in, or within 48 hours.

By Bettie Cross