Can a landlord be fined for not disclosing bed bugs in NYC?

Yes. Failure to provide the required bed bug infestation history disclosure to a tenant before lease signing is a violation of NYC law and can result in HPD violations and fines. Additionally, a landlord who fails to disclose known bed bug history may face liability in housing court if a tenant later discovers an infestation that was not disclosed. The Annual Bed Bug Report filing requirement also carries penalties for non-compliance.

What is the NYC Bed Bug Registry?

The NYC Bed Bug Registry is a publicly searchable database maintained by HPD that contains the annual bed bug infestation history reports filed by landlords of multiple dwellings. Anyone can search a building's address on HPD Online to see whether bed bugs were reported, and whether infestations were remediated. The registry covers all multiple dwellings (3+ unit buildings) in the five boroughs that are required to file annual reports.

How long does a landlord have to treat bed bugs in NYC?

Under NYC Local Law 55, pest-related hazardous conditions (which include bed bugs) must be remediated within 10 days of an HPD inspection finding a hazard. If a tenant files a complaint directly with the landlord (not HPD), the landlord should arrange an inspection within 72 hours and treatment as quickly as possible — typically within 1–2 weeks. Delays beyond this expose the landlord to housing court action and rent reduction orders.

Who pays for bed bug treatment in a NYC rental?

In NYC rental housing, the landlord is responsible for paying for professional bed bug treatment. The landlord's obligation to maintain the unit in a habitable condition extends to pest-free conditions. Tenants are not required to pay for treatment, though they are required to cooperate with the process — including properly preparing their unit before treatment as directed by the pest management professional. If a tenant causes the infestation (e.g., by bringing in infested furniture), the situation may be more complex, but the landlord typically still bears the cost of treatment.

NYC Bed Bug Disclosure Law for Landlords 2026

NYC Local Law 69 requires landlords to disclose bed bug history on leases and file annual reports. Learn what triggers the duty to remediate and what tenants are entitled to know.

New York City's bed bug disclosure law is one of the most tenant-protective in the country. Since 2017, landlords have been required to provide prospective tenants with detailed bed bug infestation history before signing a lease — and to file annual reports with the city. Failure to comply exposes landlords to significant legal liability, yet many property owners and managers are still not fully aware of their obligations. This guide explains exactly what the law requires and what it means in practice.

NYC Local Law 69 (2017): The Disclosure Requirement

NYC Local Law 69, codified in the NYC Administrative Code, requires landlords of multiple dwellings to:

Provide each new tenant with a written disclosure of the bed bug infestation history of the unit and the building for the prior one-year period, prior to signing a lease
File an Annual Bed Bug Infestation History report with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) each year
Make the Annual Report available to prospective tenants upon request

The disclosure must cover whether the unit itself and the building had a bed bug infestation in the prior 12 months, and if so, whether the infestation was remediated and when. This applies to new leases and lease renewals in all multiple dwellings (buildings with 3 or more residential units).

The Annual Bed Bug Infestation History Report

Every year, typically by December 31, NYC landlords of multiple dwellings must file a Bed Bug Annual Report with HPD through the HPD online portal. The report requires landlords to identify:

Each unit in the building that had a bed bug infestation during the reporting year
Whether each reported infestation was remediated
The date remediation was completed

HPD compiles this data and makes building-level bed bug history publicly searchable at the NYC Bed Bug Registry, accessible through HPD Online. Tenants, prospective tenants, and neighbors can search any NYC building's reported bed bug history.

What Triggers the Duty to Remediate

Under NYC law, a landlord's duty to remediate a bed bug infestation is triggered when:

A tenant submits a written complaint to the landlord about a suspected bed bug infestation
An HPD inspector identifies bed bugs during a building inspection
The landlord has actual knowledge of an infestation through their own inspection or pest control contractor

Once the duty is triggered, the landlord must arrange professional inspection and treatment within the timeframes established by HPD violation notices. Under Local Law 55, pest-related hazards (including bed bugs) must be remediated within 10 days of an HPD inspection finding a hazard.

Tenant Rights Under NYC Bed Bug Law

NYC tenants have significant rights when it comes to bed bugs:

The right to receive a written one-year infestation history before signing a lease
The right to have a confirmed infestation treated at the landlord's expense in rental housing
The right to file an HP proceeding in Housing Court to compel the landlord to treat the infestation
The right to seek a rent abatement for the period during which the infestation affected their use and enjoyment of the apartment

Best Practices for NYC Landlords

To stay compliant and minimize liability, property managers should:

Document all tenant bed bug complaints in writing, with dates
Schedule professional inspection within 72 hours of any complaint
Contract with a licensed pest management professional for bed bug treatment immediately upon confirmation
Keep records of all treatments, products used, and follow-up inspections
File the HPD Annual Bed Bug Report accurately and on time each year

Control Exterminating has been treating bed bug infestations in NYC apartment buildings since before the city even had a disclosure law. Call (212) 696-4164 to set up a bed bug inspection or ongoing monitoring program for your building.