Bed Bugs in Houston
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Houston has no zoning in the usual sense, and that shows in its housing: townhomes squeezed into former single-family lots, garage apartments behind older houses, mid-rise complexes, and sprawling apartment communities along its freeways. The housing mix is wide, and bed bugs can turn up in any of it. Here is how to think about the most common situations.
Townhomes and garage apartments
A townhome shares at least one wall with its neighbor, and often the attic space or utility chases run across several units. A garage apartment is a separate dwelling above or behind a house, which may share a yard, a laundry and sometimes a landlord with the main house. In both cases, the neighbor is closer than it looks. Tell the owner or landlord, and ask that the adjoining unit or main house be checked when yours is treated.
Large complexes
In multi-building complexes, a pest control company is often already on contract. Report the problem in writing to the leasing office and ask what the process is: how soon inspection happens, which units are included, and what you need to do to prepare. Keep your own records of every conversation, because Texas tenants who want repairs generally need to follow a notice procedure, and good documentation protects you.
Humidity, storms and storage
Houston's humidity and its flood and storm risk affect your preparation more than the bugs themselves. Do not store bagged laundry or clean belongings in a damp garage or a flood-prone ground-floor area, where mold and moisture damage can occur. Use sealed, sturdy plastic bins stored indoors instead. If you evacuate for a storm or relocate temporarily during repairs, inspect borrowed beds and sofas carefully.
What to ask a local exterminator
- Are you licensed by the state of Texas for structural pest control?
- Will you also inspect the garage apartment, the main house or the adjoining townhome?
- How do you treat attic and wall voids in a townhome?
- Can you give me a written scope, a price, and the guarantee terms?
Official resources
TexasLawHelp.org has plain-language information about renters' rights and the steps for requesting repairs in Texas. For apartment buildings, see the City of Houston apartment habitability inspections page. This site cannot provide 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 Houston and compare quotes before you commit.