Delaware § 5317 - Landlord and tenant obligations relating to bed bug infestation.

§ 5317. Landlord and tenant obligations relating to bed bug infestation.

(a) Prior to renting a dwelling unit, the owner or property manager shall visually inspect the unit for any evidence of the presence of bed bugs, which may be indicated by observation of a living bed bug, bed bug carapace, eggs or egg casings, or brownish or blood spotting on linens, mattresses, or furniture. A landlord shall not show, rent, or lease to a prospective tenant any vacant dwelling unit that the landlord knows or reasonably suspects has a current bed bug infestation.

(b) This section does not impose a duty on a landlord to inspect a dwelling unit or the common areas of the premises for bed bugs if the landlord has no notice of a suspected or actual bed bug infestation. If a bed bug infestation is evident on visual inspection, the landlord shall be considered to have notice pursuant to this section.

(c) Prior to renting a dwelling unit, a landlord shall disclose to a prospective tenant if an adjacent unit or units are currently infested with or are being treated for bed bugs.

(d) Upon notification by a person who finds or reasonably suspects a bed bug infestation in a dwelling unit or common area of the premises, the landlord shall:

(1) Acknowledge the complaint within 120 hours of notification of the suspected infestation.

(2) Inspect or obtain investigatory services from a pest management professional within 120 hours of notification.

(3) Upon a determination of an infestation and within 14 days of notification, obtain and provide remedial services from a pest management professional.

(4) Inspect or obtain investigatory services of a pest management professional in connection with any unit directly adjacent to, above or below the dwelling unit or common area from which the original report came within 5 days of notification.

(5) Provide tenants with notice pursuant to § 5509 of this title in advance of entering a dwelling unit for purposes of inspection, bed bug remediation, or monitoring in connection with a bed bug complaint.

(6) Provide all tenants of units affected by a bed bug complaint with notice of the pest management professional’s determination in connection with such unit within 120 hours of receipt of information from the pest management professional. Electronic notice may be provided by email or by an electronic portal or management communication system that is available to both a landlord and a tenant. Similar notification must be provided to all tenants in connection with determinations made regarding a common area of the premises.

(7) Maintain a written record of all complaints and control measures provided, including reports of chemicals applied and other remedies provided by the pest management professional or other person and any other reports or receipts prepared by the pest management professional. Such records shall be maintained for 2 years.

(e) A tenant shall not knowingly bring into the building personal furnishings or belongings that are known or reasonably suspected to be infested with bed bugs.

(f) Responsibility for bed bug remediation:

(1) If a tenant notifies the landlord that the tenant found or reasonably suspects a bed bug infestation within the tenant’s dwelling unit:

a. Within 60 days after occupancy; or

b. Within 30 days of a discovery of a bed bug infestation in an adjoining unit in the building,

the landlord shall be responsible for the costs of investigating and remediating the infestation.

(2) If a tenant notifies the landlord that the tenant found or reasonably suspects a bed bug infestation more than 60 days after occupancy and not within 30 days of a discovery of a bed bug infestation in an adjoining unit in the building, the landlord shall be responsible for investigating and remediating the bed bug infestation, provided that the tenant shall share in the responsibility for the reasonable costs for remediating the infestation in the tenant’s unit. The tenant shall not be responsible to share in costs with properties managed by a state or local government housing authority.

83 Del. Laws, c. 451, § 2;