Report early and in writing
Tell the landlord or managing agent what you found, where and when. Attach clear photographs, or describe the specimen you caught. Ask how and when an inspection will happen.
GOV.UK tells tenants to contact the landlord straight away about repairs and health hazards. It also says to keep paying rent while you wait for work to be done. Therefore, do not hold back rent on the strength of general online advice.
Keep a timeline of every message, access visit and contractor report. Early reporting helps everyone tell a new problem from one that has spread between rooms or flats. A good record also protects landlords, because it shows when they were told and what they did.
- Use dates and room names
- Keep all contractor paperwork
- Ask before you throw away supplied furniture
- Agree access and preparation in writing
Who is responsible?
Please do not expect a one-line answer. The GOV.UK pages we read in October 2026 do not mention bed bugs by name. They do say landlords must keep rented homes safe and free from health hazards, and that tenants only handle repairs if the tenancy agreement says so.
GOV.UK also says tenants answer for damage they or their guests cause. However, a bed bug problem is rarely a matter of blame, because the insects travel on luggage and second-hand items. Both sides should focus on the evidence and on a shared plan.
The guidance on pest control in general is simple. Property owners are responsible for pests on their own property, and councils may offer a service for a fee. Therefore, a landlord or agent will often arrange the inspection, while the tenant prepares the home.
If the problem is not fixed
If your landlord does not act, GOV.UK says to contact your council’s environmental health team. Councils can also assess a home under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. That system covers 29 health and safety areas, and councils can issue improvement notices where they find serious hazards.
Whether bed bugs count as a hazard in a given case is for the council to judge. You can also seek independent housing advice. Meanwhile, keep your records up to date.
What landlords and agents can do
Landlords should respond quickly and keep the tone neutral. Accusing a tenant of bringing in the insects rarely helps, because it makes people hide evidence. Instead, book an inspection, share the findings and agree who does what.
It also helps to give tenants written preparation steps before the visit. Specifically, say which items to bag, which rooms to clear and how long they should stay out. Clear instructions cut the number of wasted visits.
Coordinate shared buildings
In blocks and converted houses, ask whether adjoining flats or shared routes need checking. This does not mean every neighbour has bed bugs. It means the inspection should follow the evidence rather than stop at your front door.
Managing agents should give residents one preparation standard and one reporting route. For example, a single leaflet and a single contact avoids conflicting DIY treatments. Our post on bed bugs in London flats and shared buildings explains how activity moves through a block.
Residents often ask whether to try treating the home themselves. The honest answer is that results are mixed, and the NHS advises calling the council or a pest control service. Read whether you can get rid of bed bugs yourself before you buy products.
Timelines and monitoring
Treatment rarely ends in one visit. Our post on how long bed bug treatment takes helps tenants and landlords set realistic expectations. Landlords should also agree who will check progress afterwards.
Interceptors under bed legs can show whether activity continues. See the guide to bed bug monitors and interceptors for how to use them well, and the after-treatment monitoring guide for a simple schedule.
Renting across London
Housing stock differs from borough to borough. These guides explain how to check each council’s service:
- bed bug guidance for Westminster renters in mansion blocks
- what Camden tenants should check in converted houses
- the Hackney area guide for shared lets
- help for Tower Hamlets tenants in large blocks
- the Southwark area guide for mixed tenures
- steps for Lambeth renters in older conversions
Once you know your position, use the first 24 hours checklist and prepare the home for treatment. This page is general information, not legal advice. For advice on a specific tenancy, speak to your council or an independent housing adviser.
Sources and further checks
Open each source before you act, because council services, prices, tenancy rules and product labels can change. We list the pages this guide relied on when it was last checked.