Tag: state bed bug laws Colorado

What Should I Know About CO State Bed Bug Laws?

state bed bug laws Colorado

If you are traveling to Colorado and staying at a hotel, or if you are a tenant and have the inconvenience of finding bed bugs, it is good to know what you should do; the Centennial State has laws regarding landlord duties in such situations.

First of all, insist that you talk to the people who should be responsible with keeping the place clean and free of pests. If you are not a native assertive speaker, it might be tempting to settle for the room you have, despite the tiny stain you found on the mattress. But there can be consequences.

Bed bugs, unlike mosquitoes and ticks, do not actively transmit disease, but a recent study found that they may still transmit germs from one person to another – including antibiotic-resistant germs, MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus etc. Through its toxins, Staphylococcus aureus can cause various diseases, from skin reactions to sepsis.

Bed bugs in hotels and other accommodation units

When you find bedbugs, do not ignore them. Be bolder instead and ask the right questions. You do not want to become a victim, especially since most hotels will be willing to offer you another room and will make a proper inspection immediately, because they certainly do not want problems and negative publicity. Hotel owners and staff have the best interest to make sure their guests do not leave the hotel unhappy.

Ask about bedbug prevention plans. Before the accommodation formalities, ask the hotel staff about the practices they have put in place to deal with the prevention and treatment of pests and especially bedbugs.

The vast majority of businesses in the hospitality industry do an excellent job of having an action plan to protect themselves and their guests. Many hotels conduct proactive inspections and work with pest control companies to quickly resolve any issues.

Also, read reviews about bedbug infestation. With a little research on the internet, it is easy to find out if bed bugs have been reported at your hotel. For example, traveling sites such as TripAdvisor and Yelp offer many reviews.

Bed bugs in residential premises

Like we mentioned before, state bed bug laws Colorado stipulate a landlord’s duties in the case of a bed bug infestation. Tenants are required to notify the landlord in writing, to have proof of the delivery of their notice.

Landlords are required to act promptly, within 96 hours after being noticed of the presence the infestation. They must contact professional pest-removal services and bring a qualified inspector on site. If the result of the inspection is positive, the landlord must allow the professionals to inspect and clean all contiguous dwelling units, paying for the associated costs related to inspection and treatment. Tenants must be informed about the inspection and they must allow the access of the professionals to their dwelling units and permit the inspection and the necessary treatment against bed bugs. Tenants who fail to comply with these requirements will be liable for subsequent bed bug treatments, not just of the dwelling unit but also for contiguous units.

In their turn, landlords who fail to comply with their duties are liable to the tenants.