Bedbugs

Bedbugs are small blood-sucking insects that live in cracks and crevices in and around beds. They crawl out at night and bite exposed skin to feed on blood.

Bedbugs aren’t a sign of bad hygiene so are nothing to be ashamed of, but it is a good idea to deal with the issue as soon as possible if you become aware of them inside your home.

Adult bedbugs are oval-shaped, flat and up to 5mm long, similar to an apple seed. Their colour varies between dark yellow, red or brown.

Bedbugs aren't dangerous and don't spread any diseases, but some people experience a reaction to their bites and they can be stressful to live with.

 

Signs of a bedbug infestation can include:

• small bugs or tiny white eggs in the crevices and joints of your mattress and furniture - use a bright torch to check for these
• bites on your skin
• tiny black spots on your mattress - this could be their dried poo
• mottled bedbug shells - bedbugs shed their skin as they grow
• blood spots on your sheets - these can occur if you squash a bug after it has fed
• an unpleasant, musty scent in your bedroom

Bedbugs tend to prefer fabric or wood over plastic and metal, and often hide near to where you sleep, like under the mattress or along the headboard.

But they can be found away from the bed in other furniture, along the edges of carpets and even behind mirrors or inside smoke alarms.

 

How do you get rid of bedbugs?

As stated in your Conditions of Tenancy, you will be responsible for preventing and treating any pest infestation inside your property, including bedbugs.

Bedbugs can be very difficult to get rid of. Your best chance of successfully treating an infestation is to get professional help. Contact a pest control firm that's a member of the British Pest Control Association or National Pest Technicians Association. If you need further assistance, please call us on 0800830160.

A technician will carry out an inspection to confirm an infestation. They can then use special treatments such as insecticide, a steamer or rapid freeze system to get rid of the bugs.

They may also advise about things you can do to help, such as:

• wash infested clothes or bed linen at 60°C, or put them in a dryer on a hot setting for 30 minutes
• use a vacuum cleaner with a hose to suck up any bugs you can see - dispose of the contents of the vacuum cleaner in a sealed bag
• consider throwing away any mattress or furniture that's heavily infested
• use plastic mattress covers that encase the entire mattress - this will stop any bedbugs getting in or out

 

Preventing bedbug infestations:

• inspect your mattress and bed regularly for signs of an infestation and get professional advice if you think you have bedbugs
• avoid buying second-hand mattresses and carefully inspect second-hand furniture before bringing it into your home
• keep your bedroom tidy and remove clutter

Bedbugs aren't attracted to dirt, so they're not a sign of an unclean home, but clearing up any clutter will reduce the number of places they can hide.