If you're a tenant
- Confirm the signs. Look for small, flat, reddish-brown insects, tiny dark spots, shed skins and eggs along mattress seams, bed frames and furniture joints. See how to tell if you have bed bugs.
- Take dated photos of what you find.
- Tell your landlord or agent in writing (a message or email is fine) as soon as you can. Early notice usually means a smaller, cheaper treatment.
- Don't move to another room or a friend's place to sleep. Bed bugs follow people and you can spread them.
- Avoid DIY sprays before the operator visits. They rarely reach the eggs and can scatter bed bugs.
If you're a landlord
- Respond quickly. In a home with several rooms, delays let bed bugs spread to other tenants' rooms.
- Get a professional inspection of the reported room and the rooms next to it, using an NEA-licensed operator. See how to choose an operator.
- Coordinate everyone in the home, because all affected rooms may need to be prepared and treated at the same time.
- Check furniture you supply, especially mattresses, bed frames and sofas.
Who pays?
That depends on your tenancy agreement and the circumstances, so read it first. Many agreements say something about pest control or minor repairs. If it's unclear, talk it through early and agree in writing. This page is general information, not legal advice. If you can't agree, consider getting advice from a lawyer or a mediation service.
Preparing the room
- Bag clothes and bedding, then wash and dry them on the hottest settings the fabric allows.
- Clear the floor and the area under the bed so the operator can reach skirting and furniture.
- Keep bagged items sealed until the operator says it's fine to unpack.
Our preparation checklist has the full list. Treatment usually needs more than one visit, so plan for follow-ups.
Moving out?
Don't take bed bugs with you. Check and wash everything before you pack, vacuum suitcases and bags, and inspect furniture before it goes into your next home.
Questions
Is my landlord responsible for bed bugs?
It depends on your tenancy agreement and how the bed bugs arrived. Check the agreement first and raise it with your landlord in writing early. This is general information, not legal advice.
Should only my room be treated?
Not always. Bed bugs can move between rooms, so operators often inspect the rooms next to the affected one and may recommend treating more than one.
How long does bed bug treatment take in a rented room?
Most treatments involve more than one visit, often a couple of weeks apart. Ask the operator for the schedule so tenants and landlord can plan around it.
Related
More guides
- Signs of termites in an HDB flat, and where to look
- Bed bugs after travel: how to avoid bringing them home
- How much does termite treatment cost in Singapore?
- Termite baiting vs soil treatment (chemical barrier)
- Bed bug treatment: cost and preparation checklist
- How to choose an NEA-licensed pest control operator
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- Termite treatment for HDB flats
- Bed bug treatment: heat vs chemical, and how to prepare
- Subterranean vs drywood termites: how to tell them apart
- Pre-renovation termite treatment: is it worth it?
- Termites in a condo: working with your MCST
- Termite inspection before buying a landed home
- Bed bugs and second-hand furniture: check before you bring it home
- Termites (white ants) in wooden furniture: signs and what to do
Bed bugs in your rented room or flat? Tell us what you're dealing with and we'll pass your request to up to 3 NEA-licensed operators who cover your area. It's free, with no obligation.