Tell the Landlord Now, in Writing
It is tempting to say nothing and hope it is not noticed. It usually is, either at check-out or when the next tenant is bitten, and it is much harder to discuss then. Report it to the landlord or agent in writing as soon as you know, with the date and what you have seen.
Who arranges and pays for treatment depends on the tenancy and on the cause, which is often impossible to prove either way. Some landlords arrange it; some ask the tenant to. We can give you a clear account of what we find, but we are not legal advisers, and a dispute over the deposit is between you and the landlord. The Barnet borough page covers the wider household side.
Timing Treatment Around the Move
The ideal is a home treated before you pack, so that your things leave clean. How that works depends on how long you have.
- A month or more: a chemical course can be finished before you go, with the follow-up visit done while you are still there.
- Two or three weeks: heat treatment is usually the answer, because it kills every stage in one visit. It costs more.
- Days: treat what you are taking with you as carefully as you can, and make sure the landlord knows the home still needs treating.
If you are not sure how far it has spread, an inspection tells you which rooms and which furniture are affected.
Packing So They Stay Behind
- Wash and dry everything that can take it on a hot cycle, and pack it straight into sealed plastic bags, not open boxes.
- Check furniture before it is loaded. Bed frames, bedside tables and upholstered chairs need looking over joint by joint. If a piece is affected, ask us before you move it.
- Use new or plastic boxes. Old cardboard from the affected rooms can carry them.
- Keep the affected mattress where it is unless we say otherwise. Carrying it out through the hall spreads bedbugs, and you may not need to replace it.
- Unpack in one room at the new place and check as you go.
At the New Home
For the first few weeks, look at your new mattress seams and bed frame every few days. A pale fitted sheet makes spotting easier to see. If you are thinking about a new mattress, read buying a new mattress after bedbugs first. Whether you are leaving Edgware or moving within it, the same advice applies.
Bedbug Control Edgware — Questions
Will the landlord keep my deposit because of bedbugs?
That depends on the tenancy and on what can be shown about the cause. Report it in writing early. For advice on the deposit itself, speak to a tenancy adviser; we are pest controllers.
Can you treat the flat after I have moved out?
Yes, if the landlord or agent arranges access. An empty home is straightforward to treat, though your belongings should have been dealt with before they leave.
Should I leave the bed behind?
If it belongs to the landlord, yes. If it is yours, ask us before deciding. Moving it spreads bedbugs, and treating it may be the better option.
How much does it cost to treat a rented flat in Edgware?
Treatments start at £220, and inspections from £120. The figure depends on the rooms and the method, and you get it on the phone first.
The bites are getting worse. Who should I see?
A pharmacist or GP can advise on skin reactions. Call 999 if anyone shows signs of a severe allergic reaction.
Elsewhere in Barnet
The other areas in the borough, each written around a different situation.
Bedbug Advice for Edgware
Picked for this page: the guides that go further on what matters for Edgware.
Buying a New Mattress After Bedbugs
When a replacement is worth it, why it waits until after treatment, and how to protect it.
Read more →
Does Home Insurance Cover Bedbugs?
What to look for in your policy, what to ask the insurer, and the paperwork worth keeping.
Read more →
Inspection First, or Straight to Treatment?
When the £120 saves you money, and when it is £120 you did not need to spend.
Read more →
How Long Does a Heat Treatment Take?
Why one London flat takes four hours and another takes ten, and what decides it.
Read more →Bedbug Treatments in Barnet
Every service has its own page for Barnet: heat, chemical, hotels, commercial premises and inspections.
Covering Edgware
Tell Us About the Property
Tell us your moving date and which rooms are affected, and we will tell you what can be done in the time you have.