Bed Bugs in Boston
Last reviewed:
Boston mixes triple-deckers, brownstones, older walk-ups and a huge student population. That means a lot of shared walls and a lot of people moving in and out at once, especially around the start of the school year. This guide is built around that mix.
Your first week
- Identify the bug. A sealed bag with a specimen, plus photos of droppings along mattress seams, gives a professional something to confirm.
- Report it to whoever manages your building, in writing, and keep a copy. In a small building the owner may be close by; in a larger one, go through the management office.
- Contain your own belongings. Wash and dry bedding on high heat, and keep clean items in sealed bags away from the infested room.
- Tell the units next to yours if you have good relations with them, or ask the landlord to. Early notice limits the spread.
Triple-deckers, brownstones and walk-ups
In a triple-decker or brownstone divided into units, households share stairwells, basements and sometimes porches. Bugs commonly travel through shared floors, ceilings and wall voids between stacked units, so treatment works best when the units above and below are inspected at the same time as yours. That is simpler when one owner controls the whole building, and slower when units are split among condo owners and renters.
Larger apartment buildings behave like any big building: many units, shared hallways and often an existing pest control vendor on contract with management. In both cases the owner or management is the party who can authorize a coordinated treatment.
Student moves and the September rush
Boston's rental calendar is unusually concentrated, with a large share of leases turning over around the start of the academic year. Furniture left on the curb and used items moved between apartments are common ways bed bugs travel. Do not bring in a free mattress or upholstered piece without inspecting it closely, and tell any roommates or subletters early so everyone treats the problem together.
What to ask a local exterminator
- Are you licensed to do structural pest control in Massachusetts?
- Do you have experience with multi-unit triple-deckers, and how will you handle the other floors?
- What is the written guarantee, and what do I need to do to keep it valid?
- What preparation do you need from me, and can I get it in writing?
Official resources
For help with a rental, start with your city or county's housing or code enforcement office, and check your state's pest control licensing agency to confirm an exterminator's license. A local legal aid group can tell you what your lease and local rules say about pest problems. This site is not legal advice.
Related guides
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- What bed bug bites look like
- How to prepare for treatment
- How heat treatment works
- How much treatment costs
- DIY versus a professional
- Where bed bugs come from
- Checking a hotel room
- Bed bug guides for other cities
Request a match with pest control companies serving Boston and compare quotes before you commit.