Annie’s Mailbox: Building manager pesty about bugs

Dear Annie: I live in a rental space with my aunt and uncle. We enjoyed it until recently. Here’s what happened:

During the time we have been here, the rental space has had several different managers. All were nice and tried their best, but this new manager is treating us poorly. “Sally” is evil and rude, and if she’s right, you’re wrong. Her attitude toward us makes us feel terrible.

We pay our rent every month on time. We try to keep our rental space as clean as possible. We are cordial to our neighbors. However, when we got a bedbug infestation, Sally said it was our fault. We have heard from previous residents that they have had infestations, as well.

I don’t think Sally is totally familiar with infestations. She knew nothing about bedbugs and had to read up on them. She thinks there is nothing wrong with blaming us, yet the fact that others on this property have had infestations indicates that the problem has been kicking around for a while, and others may have bedbugs soon.

She is charging us for the exterminator, even though we weren’t the ones who called him. She also arranged a follow-up spray without asking us. She is making us feel that we need to leave. How do we find out who the owner is so I can report Sally? – Concerned

Dear Concerned: Some unenlightened landlords blame bedbug infestations on the residents, but the truth is that a single infestation can reappear anywhere in the entire apartment complex over and over, regardless of origin, which is what may have happened in your space. It is necessary for all of the apartments in the vicinity to be thoroughly disinfected, meaning the neighbors above, below and on either side. You can find out who owns the rental spaces through your county government offices, which should have records of land ownership. (In Chicago, it would be the Recorder of Deeds, but it varies by location.)