As the bed bug battle rages on from coast to coast, so do the battles among people and organizations as to who is responsible for the nasty little bloodsuckers once they infiltrate a home or business.  Blame of the infestation must always be assessed it seems, and along with that blame comes the reality that someone must pay to eradicate the little monsters that attack in the night!

Over the past few years, some states and municipalities have enacted bed bug laws that are aimed to protect both renters and landlords/property owners alike.  In most cases the legislature that is enacted is fair to both parties.  On occasion we will see one come down the pike that is lopsided…favoring one party over the other.

The Iowa Landlords Association went to the Statehouse this week pitching their idea about a new bed bug law that they would like to see enacted.  Their version of the proposed legislature is extremely one-sided, favoring just their interests, not the tenants who would be suffering through an infestation of bed bugs.

According to KCRG.com on February 7, 2012, House Study Bill 520 is being debated by the Iowa house subcommittee.  The Iowa Landlords Association wants a law enacted so that tenants are responsible for any bed bug infestation in a rental property when they do not notify the landlord about the infestation fast enough.  The Association wants tenants to be mandated to notify landlords of potential bed bugs within two days of discovering the pests or within one week of moving into a new rental property.  You may read the article here.

The mindset of the Iowa Landlords Association versus the reality of how bed bugs function and survive makes this proposed legislature a bit off-balanced and difficult to enforce in the long run.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.