Landlord Responsible for Exterminating Bedbugs in Tenants' Apartment

LVT Number: #27315

Tenants sued landlord for negligence, claiming that landlord never eradicated a bedbug infestation in their apartment that began in 2012. Landlord claimed that it wasn’t responsible for the conditions in tenants’ apartment. The court ruled for tenants after a jury trial, and granted tenants’ request to direct a verdict on the issue of landlord’s liability for failing to eradicate the bedbugs, despite efforts to do so. The law makes eradication of bedbugs in a tenant’s apartment the obligation of the landlord, and this can’t be waived.

 

Tenants sued landlord for negligence, claiming that landlord never eradicated a bedbug infestation in their apartment that began in 2012. Landlord claimed that it wasn’t responsible for the conditions in tenants’ apartment. The court ruled for tenants after a jury trial, and granted tenants’ request to direct a verdict on the issue of landlord’s liability for failing to eradicate the bedbugs, despite efforts to do so. The law makes eradication of bedbugs in a tenant’s apartment the obligation of the landlord, and this can’t be waived.

 

 

 

Aponte v. NYCHA: 2016 N.Y. Slip Op. 26334, 2016 WL 5952723 (Sup. Ct. Richmond; 10/13/16; Straniere, J)