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Bed bugs

Bed bugs are a big problem in BC. Check for signs of bed bugs before you move into a place and take steps to prevent bed bug infestations. While your landlord is responsible for treating a bed bug infestation, having bed bugs may not be enough to allow you to break a tenancy agreement and move out of your place.

The City of Vancouver enforces pest control through their Standards of Maintenance Bylaw. Phone the City at 604-873-7398 if your landlord is not dealing with the bedbug situation. For other municipalities, call your City Hall.

It’s important that you tell the landlord as soon as you suspect you have bedbugs and that you also cooperate with any pest control actions. If you refuse to cooperate you could face eviction.

For more information on bed bugs see links below:

• Vancouver Coastal Health pamphlet 
• BC Health Guide information
• Bed Bug Registry to check or report if a building has bed bugs
• Structural Pest Management Association of BC

For information about the chemicals used to treat pests see the following reports by West Coast Environmental Law:

• Pesticides and your Health (Punjabi, Spanish)
• Pesticides in your Home

*Do not attempt to treat a bed bug problem on your own.

For information on BC Housing's provisions for construction of a designated heat treatment room to exterminate bed bugs and other insects from belongings and furnishings, see the link below:

• Heat Treatment Room for Bed Bugs