New York Governor Hoch signed a bill on November 22 requiring landlords to notify tenants within 72 hours upon discovering a bed bug infestation on their property.
New York City experienced a major bed bug problem in 2010, which has since improved but has not been completely eradicated. In response, Democratic State Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson from the Bronx and State Senator Luis Sepulveda proposed amendments to the Real Property Law in May this year, which was later passed in the state legislature. After reaching an agreement with the state legislature to make some changes to the bill, Governor Hoch signed it on November 22.
The bill passed by the state legislature stipulates that landlords must provide written notice to tenants within 24 hours, which will now be extended to 72 hours. Only tenants who are closer to the infested area or are at risk of bed bug infestation will need to be notified in writing. If common areas are affected by bed bugs, other tenants can be informed through posted notices. The new law is theoretically set to take effect one month later, on December 22, but the amendments to the bill will have to wait for the state legislature to reconvene in Albany in January next year for final approval.
According to Orkin’s list of the 50 cities with the most severe bed bug problems in the United States in 2023, New York City ranked second, just after Chicago. Currently, New York City’s laws require landlords to provide records of any bed bug infestations in the building within the past year when signing a lease agreement with tenants. The new law in New York State is expected to further hold landlords accountable for bed bug infestations.