Bed Bugs are rearing their tiny, blood-sucking heads in Houston area apartments, businesses and homes.    

Chinches de cama o ‘bed bugs’ se están revelando en apartamentos, lugares de negocio y hogares en Houston.  

UPDATE 04-30-12 for HUD Properties:

"NAA/NMHC JOINT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM NEWS
At NAA/NMHC's Urging, HUD Issues Revised Bed Bug Guidance

On April 23, at the urging of NAA/NMHC, HUD issued new bed bug guidance (Notice H-2012-5) to replace the troublesome notice (H-2011-20) issued last summer. 

In letters and meetings with senior HUD staff, an NAA/NMHC-led coalition objected to the original guidance, noting that it created confusion about best management practices, hamstrung the efforts of owners and property managers to prevent infestations and failed to meaningfully address the financial issues to the owner and resident related to recurrent infestations.  We also objected to the expansive scope, which included FHA-insured properties.

The new notice addresses many of our concerns and emphasizes the shared responsibilities between property management staff and residents to prevent or eliminate infestations.  Importantly, it allows owners to conduct voluntary inspections and to treat resident's possessions as part of an Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM).  Treatment costs may be partially recovered in conformance with HUD’s model lease. 

This revised Guidance applies to properties receiving HUD assistance (e.g., project-based Section 8); it does not apply to properties taking Section 8 vouchers.  While the new Guidance still applies to FHA-insured properties, it explicitly notes that it does not supersede state and local tenant laws, which dramatically reduces its scope.

In separate action, on February 28, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing issued a notice (PIH-2012-17) that applies to public housing and project-based Section 8 properties and, in HUD’s words, may be of interest to “owners/agents providing assisted housing through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program.”  The Notice “encourages” properties to develop IPM programs that include a resident and staff education component; it did not address any financing issues.

NAA/NMHC met with HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary Marie Head last Friday to discuss the Notices.  We voiced concern that there are two separate notices on the same subject matter, although HUD maintains this will not be problematic. 

We also reiterated our contention that many properties do not have the financial resources to deal with a recurrent or large scale infestations and suggested that HUD needs to work closely with owners to identify sufficient resources without compromising other aspects of the property. 

We will continue to work with the administration to refine guidance and efforts to effectively and responsibly respond to infestation issues."

 Managers: 

Please check out these resources for dealing with bed bugs from the National Apartment Association. 

A "TAA Bed Bug Awareness Addendum" is also available from HAA for owners/managers to use as an addendum to their lease.  The addendum makes renters aware of what bed bugs are, how they are transmitted and how to protect their valuables from becoming infested.  The addendum also clearly defines responsibility for remediation of bed bug infestations.  Please contact Frances in Form Sales to order any lease forms, applications or addenda for your property.  

A handy web based chooser  for bedbug-fighting products approved by the EPA. 

Please consider using an HAA member pest control company when seeking bedbug treatment options.    

Para educarse sobre estos insectos, por favor revise estos recursos hechos disponibles por la asociación nacional de apartamentos o NAA (National Apartment Association). 

Un apéndice sobre el  conocimiento de chinches de cama por TAA esta disponible a través de HAA para dueños y directores  de propiedades. Este apéndice  se puede agregar al contracto de arrendamiento. El apéndice informa a inquilinos sobre los chinches de cama, como son transmitidos y como proteger propiedad y cosas de valor de ser contaminada o infestada  por estos parásitos.  El apéndice también define las responsabilidades que uno tiene sobre el tratamiento de infestaciones. Si a usted le gustaría ordenar contractos, formularios, aplicaciones o apéndices para su(s) propiedad(es), por favor póngase en contacto con Frances en el departamento de Forms Sales. 

Aquí esta un conveniente recurso que puede ayudarlo a escoger que productos aprobados por el EPA son los mas efectivos para combatir los chinches de cama.  

Renters:  

If you suspect that you have a bed bug infestation, please contact your management office immediately.  The more quickly that an infestation can be appropriately treated, the less likely it is to spread to other renters.  

Si usted sospecha que tiene una infestación de chinches en su apartamento, por favor llame a su oficina inmediatamente. Lo más rápido que usted reporta y trata su infestación, lo menos posible que la infestación se extienda a otras viviendas.  

Consejos para identificar los chinches son disponibles aquí.