If you're a renter and get a bedbug infestation, one of the first questions you'll ask is: Do I have to take care of extermination, or is that the landlord's responsibility?

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In unincorporated areas of Prince George's County, owners are always responsible for exterminating an insect infestation. (Some municipalities define extermination responsibilities differently than the county does.)

Single-family rental

Apartment

Leased condo

Whom to call

Citations

Rules in other municipalities

TBD's complete guide to bedbugs

Getting rid of bedbugs in a single-family rental

Owners are always responsible for exterminating insect infestations in a single-family rental.

Getting rid of bedbugs in an apartment

Landlords are always responsible for exterminating insect infestations in common areas and apartments. 

Getting rid of bedbugs in a leased condo

According to a literal reading of the law -- "The owner of a structure containing two (2) or more dwelling units ... shall be responsible for extermination" --  the building owner (usually the condo association) would be responsible for exterminating insect infestations in both common areas and leased condos.

In practice, however, the individual owner of an infested leased condo is responsible for extermination in the unit, said Carol Terry, public information officer for the county Department of Environmental Resources.

Whom to call

• Prince George's County Housing Complaints/Property Maintenance Enforcement/Property Standards Group (Department of Environmental Resources), 301-883-6100

Citations

Prince George's County has adopted the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code with amendments.

Here's the amended text of the 2000 IPMC that defines landlord-tenant responsibilities for insect infestations in unincorporated areas of the county:

306.2 Owner. The owner of any structure shall be responsible for extermination within the structure prior to renting or leasing the structure.

306.3 Single occupancy. The owner of a one-family dwelling or of a single-tenant nonresidential structure shall be responsible for extermination on the premises.

306.4 Multiple occupancy. The owner of a structure containing two (2) or more dwelling units, a multiple occupancy, a rooming house, or a nonresidential structure shall be responsible for extermination.

306.5 Continued maintenance. The owner of any structure shall be responsible for the continued rodent- and pest-free condition of the structure.