Are Landlords Responsible for Bed Bugs in NYC?

Yes. Under NYC's Housing Maintenance Code, landlords are legally responsible for exterminating bed bugs in all areas of a residential building. A confirmed bed bug infestation is a Class C HPD violation — the most serious category — requiring correction within 24 hours.

• Landlords must hire a licensed pest control operator to exterminate; tenants cannot be charged for the cost in most cases
• NYC law (Admin Code §27-2018.1) requires landlords to provide a written disclosure of bed bug infestation history for the prior 3 years before a tenant signs a lease
• File a 311 complaint if your landlord fails to address a bed bug infestation — this triggers an HPD inspection and creates a public record
• Check your building's pest complaint history before renting at 311tracker.com — 150,827 indoor pest complaints have been filed citywide since January 2024
• Tenants in rent-stabilized buildings can file a "reduction in services" complaint with DHCR if pest conditions persist without correction

See the full data on where pest complaints are concentrated citywide in our NYC pest complaint analysis.