Standard renters insurance won’t cover bed bugs. It’s that simple. Insurers classify these infestations as maintenance issues, not sudden disasters, which means policies exclude them entirely. No reimbursement for extermination costs ranging from $300 for a single room to $8,000 for a whole house. Hotel bills during treatment? Out of pocket. Replacement mattresses? Also on the renter’s dime. Some specialized add-ons like Jetty’s “Bedbugs Power-Up” exist, though availability varies by location and landlord—and understanding who’s actually responsible for payment gets complicated fast.
Design Highlights
- Standard renters insurance policies do not cover bed bug infestations because they’re considered maintenance issues, not sudden disasters.
- Treatment costs range from $300 for single rooms to $8,000 for whole-house extermination, all paid out of pocket.
- Alternative coverage options exist through Jetty, eRenterPlan, Assurant, and Proper Insurance, but availability varies by location and provider.
- Landlords are typically responsible for extermination costs, especially in states like Florida and New York with automatic liability laws.
- Document infestations with photographs and pest detection records to support potential claims or landlord responsibility disputes.
Most renters assume their insurance will save them when disaster strikes. They’re wrong. At least when it comes to bed bugs.
Standard renters insurance policies don’t cover bed bug infestations. Period. The major insurers, including Lemonade, treat these blood-sucking parasites as a maintenance issue, not a covered peril. Insurance companies reserve coverage for sudden, unexpected disasters—fires, hurricanes, that sort of thing. Bed bugs don’t qualify because infestations develop gradually over months. No sudden loss, no coverage.
Bed bugs fail the sudden disaster test—infestations develop slowly, making them a maintenance problem insurers refuse to cover.
Insurers argue that infestations are preventable through routine pest inspections and control procedures. They’ve made bed bugs almost universally excluded from renters and landlord insurance policies. The logic? Pest management falls on the homeowner or renter. After a previous epidemic ended, coverage became unnecessary, so insurers discontinued offerings. The policies focus on accidental damage, not maintenance-related issues.
What does this mean for your wallet? Everything related to bed bugs comes out of pocket. Extermination costs aren’t reimbursable. That infested mattress you need to replace? Not covered. Hotel bills while your apartment gets treated? Forget about it. Loss of Use coverage explicitly doesn’t apply to bed bug situations. Any damage caused by the bugs themselves or removal of personal items falls outside policy protection. Personal property protection typically covers losses from fire, theft, and vandalism, but bed bugs don’t fall into these categories.
The numbers aren’t pretty. Single-room treatment runs $300 to $500. Two rooms cost $800 to $950. Three rooms average $1,100 to $1,350. Four rooms hit $1,600 to $1,800. Whole-house treatment? Between $3,800 and $8,000.
A few companies offer alternatives. Jetty includes a “Bedbugs Power-Up” providing $300 toward extermination costs, but it’s only available to residents of partner properties. eRenterPlan and ePremium policies may include bedbug remediation coverage in select locations. Assurant offers bedbug extermination coverage in select states. Proper Insurance provides bed bug extermination and liability coverage exclusively for short-term rental owners.
Here’s the silver lining: landlords are generally responsible for organizing and paying for pest extermination. Florida and New York automatically assign landlord liability. Apartment building infestations affecting multiple units may shift responsibility away from tenants. Single-family rental infestations traced to tenant introduction typically remain tenant responsibility, though. Tenants are entitled to a basic implied warranty of habitability, which includes protection from vermin and other pests. Legal obligations may vary by state, so understanding local regulations is critical for determining who pays.
Documentation matters. Photographs and pest detection establish the problem before treatment begins. Notifying landlords immediately is essential to establish their responsibility. Legal recourse may be necessary if landlords refuse to pay extermination costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Professional Bed Bug Extermination Typically Cost?
Professional bed bug extermination runs between $1,000 and $5,000 for most homes, though costs vary wildly based on infestation severity and property size.
A single room? That’s $200 to $1,000. Whole house? Expect $1,500 to $5,000, maybe more if the situation’s really bad.
Treatment method matters too—heat runs $150 to $395 per room, while fumigation hits $528 to $1,056.
Severe infestations requiring monthly treatments can reach $7,800.
Location and labor rates also impact the final bill.
Can My Landlord Evict Me if I Report a Bed Bug Infestation?
No, landlords can’t legally evict tenants just for reporting bed bugs.
Most states ban retaliatory evictions outright. Reporting infestations is a protected tenant action—landlords are required to provide habitable housing, and bed bug-infested units don’t qualify.
If a landlord tries evicting after a report, they’re asking for legal trouble. Tenants typically win these cases.
Any eviction notice needs valid legal grounds, not just “bed bugs exist.” The landlord must prove the tenant actually caused the infestation to have a shot.
Are Bed Bugs More Common in Certain Types of Rental Properties?
Yes, and the data’s pretty clear on this.
Multi-family housing gets hit hard—88% of pest control pros treat apartments and condos for bed bugs. High turnover means more chances for these pests to hitchhike between units.
Short-term rentals aren’t much better, with 68% of hospitality properties reporting infestations.
Single-family homes see action too at 89%, but they’re easier to contain.
Bottom line: apartments and vacation rentals face the biggest risk because of constant traffic.
How Long Does It Take to Completely Eliminate a Bed Bug Infestation?
Elimination timelines vary wildly depending on infestation severity and treatment method.
Heat treatments work fast—typically killing all life stages in 2-3 hours at 130-140°F.
But here’s the catch: most infestations need multiple sessions spaced weeks apart because of egg hatching cycles.
Early-caught infestations? Much quicker to eliminate.
Established colonies? Could take months, especially since bed bugs survive 150+ days without feeding.
Follow-up inspections 10-21 days post-treatment are essential to catch survivors.
Should I Notify Neighbors if I Discover Bed Bugs in My Unit?
Notify the landlord first—that’s the legal requirement and triggers inspection within 96 hours.
The landlord typically handles neighbor notifications in multi-unit buildings to coordinate treatment.
Bed bugs spread fast through walls and shared spaces, so early action matters.
Tenants going rogue with neighbor alerts can create privacy headaches and finger-pointing.
Let property management run the show.
Document everything.
If the landlord ghosts the situation, tenants might have legal options depending on state laws.
