Bed bugs are the pest that causes the most argument in shared buildings, largely because responsibility is genuinely ambiguous. New York City requires landlords to address infestations in rental units, but co-ops and condos operate under their own bylaws, and the answer usually turns on whether the infestation is confined to one unit.
Confirm before you treat
The single most common mistake is treating on suspicion. Bites alone are not proof, since reactions vary enormously between people and several other insects produce similar marks. A canine inspection confirms live activity room by room, which matters both for targeting the treatment and for any conversation with the board about cost.
What a real treatment involves
Preparation guidance first, then treatment of harbourage, which means seams, frames, skirting, outlet housings and furniture joints rather than simply spraying a mattress. Adjacent units are inspected because bed bugs travel along shared walls and through utility chases.
Verification is the part people skip
A follow-up inspection is what tells you the job worked. Without it you are relying on the absence of bites, which is unreliable given how variable reactions are. Insist on verification, whoever is paying.
