Landlord frustrated by confirmed bedbug issue
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A Rimbey businesswoman who says she could face several thousand dollars in costs to have her business and rental premises exterminated is frustrated there is no protection for landlords against bedbugs.
Brenda Therrien said a public health inspector has confirmed there are bedbugs in a rented upstairs apartment.
“I don’t know how they were brought in and I’m not pointing a finger at anyone. All I know is they weren’t there six months ago.”
Therrien is concerned the publicity about the bedbugs will adversely affect her computer repair business downstairs.
“Health services looked downstairs and found nothing,” she said.
Therrien has contacted three exterminators and the going rate seems to be $2,800 per treatment to have the bedbugs eradicated.
Therrien said her tenants have moved out of the two upstairs apartments and she will take care of the bedbug problem, but she is concerned about the problem repeating itself.
“I didn’t create the problem and now I feel I’ve been penalized for allowing low-income families in to rent my apartments. They are supposed to be responsible and I’m the one paying the price.”
Mike Berezowsky, associate director of communications for Service Alberta, said the Landlord and Tenant Act states landlords are required to keep premises in a habitable condition, but does not specifically deal with bedbugs.
Alberta Health Services said rental property managers and landlords are required by law to hire a licensed pest control operator to address confirmed bedbug infestations.
