Disabled and elderly residents in Des Moines have filed a class action lawsuit against their landlord. They claim they have been living with bed bugs and other pests. It is one of the first lawsuits filed under Iowa’s new consumer protection law.

The lawsuit claims that over 250 people have suffered “unconscionable and substandard living conditions.” Some may wonder if the landlord has an active, comprehensive bed bug prevention plan. Perhaps not. Maybe the landlord should of had bed bug monitors placed in the residences.

The plaintiffs lawyer stated the lawsuit was brought under the consumer protection law since it is one of the few statutes available that give the court the opportunity for immediate relief. This allows the judge to order fumigation treatments to be performed immediately and allows more time to argue about the financial damages.

They want a whopping 7.4 million in reimbursement for pain and suffering, replacement of infested belongings and rent overcharges. Bed bugs might be the #1 enemy of landlords in New York City and perhaps in New Jersey and other locations. Oh my.

For most people, spring in New York and New Jersey means ants in the kitchen. Beneficial in their natural outdoor environment, when ants invade homes, ants can become a serious problem for home and business owners. Ants live in huge colonies that can number in the millions. While most species dwell outdoors in underground nests, ants often enter homes while foraging for food and may build satellite nests indoors in places such as wall voids, under cabinets or in attic insulation. A long trail of ants leading into a trashcan or food left on a counter is a frequent indication of ant infestation.  

While most ants are classified as nuisance pests, carpenter ants damage buildings, pharaoh ants spread bacteria, and many species contaminate food supplies. By virtue of their tremendous numbers and persistent behavior, even nuisance ants can become an overwhelming problem. If ants invade your home or business, call a pest control professional. Home treatment and garden sprays will just cause ant colonies to split or relocate making extermination more difficult. Ant extermination requires expert identification and pest control treatment.

Bed bugs have become a significant factor in New York City. A lot of people seeking an apartment to rent are more concerned about the place being bed bug free than the cost of living there. This also occurs in New Jersey and many other locations.

Many New York City residents will reject a building if the landlord admits the structure did have a bed bug problem. However, if the landlord addressed the bed bug issue, hired a competent  pest control company to get rid of the critters that can be seen as a positive for the apartment building.

Just because a landlord or a apartment manager says the apartment building has never had a bed bug infestation doesn’t make it true. He could be lying or simply unaware of the infestation.

If an individual moves into a building and later a bed bug infestation occurs perhaps the landlord won’t effectively take care of the problem. Renters and buyers should see if the building owner has an active, professional, comprehensive bed bug extermination program and regularly inspects for bed bugs.

The Board of Health has voted to require New York City restaurants to display the letter grade they received for their sanitary inspections. The new measure is supposed to inform the consumers about food safety at the restaurant.

The theory is that restaurants will try harder to keep their restaurants clean in order to achieve the A rating. Not too many customers want to have a plate of spaghetti at a restaurant that received a D- grade. The customers they do get would probably demand a deep discount and prompt service. Oh my.

The grade is based on the number of violations that were documented during the sanitary inspection. Every establishment will have to place a placard at the point of entry, probably a door and not a vent, which shows the grade.

However, the restaurants that receive A grades will be inspected less often than those receiving lower grades. Hmmm, hopefully unsanitary restaurants won’t just work hard to pass an inspection and then let the rats run wild! Oh my.

Hopefully the plan will be successful. A similar plan improved the sanitary conditions in Los Angeles restaurants.

Being in the hotel or cruise ship business is challenging. It requires management to continually strive in providing the best customer experience. If guests are happy, they will return and provide more business to the hotel or cruise company. They also will let their family and friends know, thereby providing a good network effect in bringing more customers to the establishment.

Of course, this can work both ways and if the guests have a lousy time for whatever reason, rest assured they won’t come back. They also will warn everyone they know to stay far away from the hotel or cruise that provided a less-than-satisfying experience.

Recently, even the most posh hotels have had outbreaks of bed bugs. These nasty little critters hide in mattresses, comforters, and many other locations. They also love blood and feast on sleeping guests causing red, itchy welts all over the body.

One treatment option for hotels and cruise ships is to buy bed bug ovens to kill all bugs in blankets, pillows, and other bedding (or just about anything else). This can be a worthwhile investment to help control and treat any outbreaks as soon as soon as they occur.

If your hotel has bed bugs, you want to make sure that you get rid of them ASAP. You need to consult with bed bug experts who can find the solution that works for you.