What rights do I have?

Question

My fiance and I have just moved into an apartment building. Now that after we moved in we found out that the building has been infested with bedbugs for the last 3 years. Our apartment itself doesn't have them, that we have noticed. 

Now I do know that since they Landlord did not disclose the information about the bed bugs we can terminate our lease without troubles. 

But we have just moved 3 times this year and we actually love the apartment. We are just scared that we will be getting the bugs soon enough...

What legal rights do we have on getting the building owners to correct the problem? ALSO THIS BUILDING IS OWNED BY "EFFORT TRUST" Can we get the landlord to spray the suite every few months? or should I get it sprayed and get a lawyer to get it deducted from my rent every month?

Or I have even herd that some people have been able to get the court to get their rent deducted and have the building sprayed often.

Is there anything else we can do? We really do not want to move once again. I cannot afford the time off work and we are also expecting our first born child in just over 4 weeks.... 

Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I believe you question originates in Yahoo Canada Answers - so the legalities vary province to province and even your city/municipality by-laws may have a bearing. You have to check in with the provincial government office. Also look for a tenants advocacy group. Note - in BC (and I believe most, if not all of Canada), a pest control operator should not apply pesticides without evidence of the offending pest, such as live bugs, fecal stains, cast skins, bed bug eggs. 

You can do several additional actions that prove your part of 'due diligence' to protect your home.

1. Educate yourself on what bed bugs looks like - not just the adults, but the nymphs and the bed bug eggs as well. Check out the links below for factual info. Caution:  don't believe everything you read - if it sounds too good to be true it probably is crap.

2.Invest in some passive bed bug monitors. Again, not the 'caution' note above. There are several different passive monitors that are effective - depends on your situation, your furniture, etc. Again, check the links below.

3.Research bed bug dog inspections for your area. Quality assurance canine-assisted bed bug inspections, done at random times throughout the year - would be the highest level of protection. The frequency would be dependent upon your risk level, e.g. as the problem is handled in your building the risk would lower; however if the nature of your job exposures you daily, your risk level would rise.
Ken. Disclaimer: I own and operate a bed bug sniffing dog business, Bed Bug Mutts, in Vancouver BC Canada.

Commandant · Answer

Your rights as a tenant are spelled out in the States Landlord Tenant Act. Your local Clerks office will provide you a copy or you can access it online. From what you say you have not experienced any bedbugs yet so you haven't been damaged. Read your lease to see what it says are the landlord's obligations. Remember your lease is a contract and it is the document the court's use to determine your remedies if any exist as well as the Landlord Tenant Act.

At this point keep monitoring for bugs and read your lease agreement and the Landlord Tenant Act.

? · Answer

You have NO rights.......... other than ask out of your lease so as to seek to move.

If it's not in your lease/rental agreement, you have no expectation of anything.

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What rights do I have?

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