Bed bugs can be particularly challenging in strata complexes and apartment buildings because separate units share walls, service penetrations and common areas. Bed bugs can bite and are difficult to eliminate, especially when activity extends beyond a single apartment. Therefore, early reporting, inspection and coordinated treatment are important.
Bed bugs are commonly introduced in luggage, furniture and other belongings. In apartment buildings, they may also move into adjoining units through gaps, service penetrations and shared building spaces.
Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding. Australia’s Industry Code of Best Practice for Bed Bug Management states that they can survive for up to six months without feeding at 22°C and potentially longer under cooler conditions. As a result, leaving a room vacant is not a reliable control method.
Strata committees, building managers, owners and residents should encourage prompt reporting so the affected apartment and relevant adjoining areas can be inspected before the infestation becomes more difficult to manage.
Newcastle Pest Exterminators provides bed bug extermination for strata properties and apartment buildings. We inspect the affected areas and develop a treatment plan based on the extent of the infestation, the building layout and the preparation requirements. Follow-up inspections and additional treatments may be required before elimination can be confirmed.
Who Is Responsible for Bed Bug Treatment?
Responsibility for arranging or paying for treatment depends on the circumstances. Relevant factors may include where the infestation is located, whether more than one lot or a common area is affected, when the problem began and whether the property is rented.
Residents should report suspected bed bugs promptly to their landlord, property manager or strata manager. The source and extent of the infestation should be investigated before responsibility is assigned.
For rental properties in NSW, pest responsibility depends partly on when the problem developed and whether the tenant’s actions caused or contributed to it. Tenants and landlords can review the current NSW Government guidance on pests in rental properties.
Bed Bug Exterminator Newcastle
Dealing with bed bugs can be a real headache, but Newcastle Pest Exterminators is here to make it easier. If you discover or suspect bed bugs, here’s what to do:
Contact Newcastle Pest Exterminators
Trying to treat a bed bug infestation with household sprays or foggers can be ineffective and may disperse the insects into additional hiding places. Instead, contact a professional bed bug technician for confirmation and inspection.
Until advice is provided, avoid moving mattresses, furniture, clothing or other belongings into another apartment because this may spread the infestation.
Implement a treatment plan.
A bed bug management plan should begin with a detailed inspection of the affected apartment. In a multi-unit building, relevant adjoining apartments should also be inspected, including those beside, above and below the confirmed infestation.
The treatment plan may combine vacuuming, heat or steam where appropriate, mattress encasements, monitoring and targeted insecticide applications. The exact methods will depend on the infestation, the property and the products registered for the intended use.
Residents should receive clear preparation, re-entry and aftercare instructions. At least one follow-up inspection is generally required, with further treatment carried out if live bed bugs remain.
Take preventative measures
Bed bugs cannot always be prevented because they may be carried into a building in luggage, furniture and personal belongings. However, strata and apartment managers can improve early detection by:
- Encouraging residents to report suspected bed bugs promptly
- Providing information about common signs, including live insects, cast skins, eggs and dark spotting
- Inspecting adjoining units when an infestation is confirmed
- Keeping treatment and inspection records
- Reducing unnecessary clutter that obstructs inspection and treatment
- Checking second-hand furniture before it is brought into the building
- Using monitors or mattress encasements where recommended by the pest technician
Routine pesticide application throughout the building should not be presented as a guaranteed preventative measure. Treatment should form part of a documented bed bug management plan based on inspection findings.
Notify Residents Before Treating Common Areas
When pesticides will be applied in common areas of a multiple-occupancy residential complex, the person organising the work must follow the applicable NSW pesticide-notification requirements.
Residents generally need to receive advance notice, while the pest management technician must also display the required notices during treatment. Common areas can include hallways, shared laundries, foyers, roof cavities and subfloor spaces.
Strata and property managers should confirm the current requirements with the NSW Environment Protection Authority when arranging treatment.
Why Choose Us
Newcastle Pest Exterminators provides bed bug control for strata complexes and apartments. Our technicians inspect the affected areas, document evidence of activity and develop a treatment plan suited to the property and infestation. They understand the unique challenges of dealing with bed bugs in a strata complex or apartment, and we have the knowledge and experience to ensure that the job is done right. Preparation requirements, follow-up visits and any service conditions will be explained before treatment begins. Contact Newcastle Pest Exterminators today to discuss bed bug treatment for your strata property or apartment.
