Bed bug infestations are a habitability violation in California. Landlords are required to disclose known infestations at the time of rental and to remediate infestations that occur during the tenancy. Tenants who discover bed bugs have specific rights and specific obligations.
Landlord Obligations
The landlord must: respond to bed bug complaints promptly, arrange for professional inspection and treatment by a licensed pest control company, not retaliate against tenants who report infestations, and provide written notice before pest control treatment (including any required preparation instructions).
Don’t discard infested furniture without documenting first. Tenants who immediately throw out their belongings because of bed bugs may have a damages claim for those losses — but only if they documented the infestation first. Photograph the bugs, the evidence of infestation, and the damaged property before disposing of anything. Those photographs support both the habitability claim and the property damages claim.
The California Tenant Defense System gives renters the exact tools, templates, and step-by-step guidance to fight illegal evictions, recover deposits, and enforce habitability rights. Request your free evaluation here.
California Tenant Defense System 
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