If you are compelled to hire your own exterminator because the landlord refused to do so, you can try deducting the cost of the extermination from your rent. Make certain, however, that you have written proof that you asked your landlord to hire an exterminator before you hired one yourself. If the landlord takes you to court, you can ask for a rent abatement for the time that elapsed between your notice to the landlord that there were bedbugs and the time that the bedbugs were eliminated, in addition to the cost of the extermination — and you may very well get it. You do risk not getting the abatement and having to pay the rent. Make sure that any exterminator you hire is licensed and make sure to get references. You must have proof of payment to the exterminator, and you always need to make certain that you have saved the rent money — there is never a guarantee that the Court will find that you had the right to deduct the cost of extermination from the rent. You may need to commence a bed bug lawsuit in order to be properly compensated for your injuries and out of pocket costs. Our New York Bed Bug injury Attorneys at The Law Offices of Effie Soter, P.C. are here to help.
If you’ve been exposed to bed bugs or if you have any questions, our New York Bed Bug Injury Attorneys will discuss your legal rights with you during a free initial consultation. We can also help you through the process of filing a claim, and fight for your right to compensation. Call and speak to one of our New York Bed Bug Injury Attorneys at 646-504-7384 or via our contact page to learn more about your rights so that we can obtain the best outcome for you.