And So Once Again, World Events Remind Us To Be Vigilant About The Pest

As reported on CNN, communities in France, Morocco and Algeria are dealing with a pronounced increase of Bed Bug infestations, reportedly including public transport, theaters and other public spaces.

From CNN.com: Two North African countries introduce measures to limit risk of bedbug infestation | CNN

As we’ve reported previously and many Owners and residents know, Park Tower’s assessments include robust funding for pro-active monitoring and inspection services for most household pests, and perhaps most importantly roaches and bed bugs. Residents receive notices for weekly inspections floor by floor for pest control efforts throughout the year. Two floors a week for bed bugs and two floors every other week for regular household pests such as roaches.

We also coordinate, schedule and follow up on any problems our team finds, or which are reported by residents. In fact, many problems are reported to us initially by residents, and that is a really important part of any successful pest control effort in a community such as Park Tower.

Most traditional exterminating services are available to residents at no additional charge as part of an ongoing process to prevent insect problems in the building. More extensive infestations, or treatment for pests not covered by that contract, can be arranged for a fee. Only properly licensed and insured companies shall be used to conduct extermination inside the unit.

Reporting a pest problem to the Management Office is vital. If reported immediately, the chances are much higher of keeping the problem from spreading into other units. In the event it is determined that treatment of the unit for any pests, including bed bugs, is necessary, then the resident shall coordinate cleaning and/or disposal of personal property (i.e. furniture, clothing, personal belongings, etc.) with the treatment being performed in the unit, so as to protect against a re-infestation of any pests, including bed bugs.

Residents who comply with any requests for inspection and extermination, greatly help the process which is vital for health and safety of all residents. Failure to report a problem and cooperate in the inspection or treatment of the unit for pests, can promote their spread. With particular regard to bed bugs, their presence can escalate very quickly as they can reproduce from one to hundreds in a matter of weeks.

So contact us. AND DON’T RELY ON THE INTERNET, OR OVER THE COUNTER SOLUTIONS. Over the counter pesticides can cause many pests to just spread to other locations – especially roaches and bed bugs, and especially in a high rise. Pest control treatments by anyone other than a professional is a mistake. And Park Tower’s rules require that a properly licensed and insured pest control operator be used. For all contractors working in the building, a minimum of $1,000,000 of general liability coverage and $500,000 of workers compensation coverage is required.

Failure to report the presence of pest or cooperate with needed inspections or treatment, can result in fines and even legal action if the conditions escalate.

If you either suspect or want to report the presence of pests, contact our team immediately during business hours at 773-769-3250, or anytime via e-mail at parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com.

Bed Bug Inspections and Treatment

As a part of the association’s effort to control and prevent the spread of bed bugs, and consistent with Section 7-28-840 of the Chicago Municipal Code, inspections shall be scheduled in units and common areas throughout the building. Inspections will typically be conducted by a trained and certified canine scent detection team, but owners can opt to have a human inspection as an alternative.

Proactive inspections will be scheduled and conducted twice per year per unit. Participation is voluntary. Unless otherwise requested in writing or being present when the inspection team knocks, “no-admit” units will not be inspected. Other unit owners and residents may opt out by notifying the office after receiving the notice or before the date of the inspection.

Upon scheduling of moves-out and moves-in, inspections shall be scheduled. Move-out inspections shall be conducted within 14 days of the scheduled move and prior to any scheduled move-in. A second canine inspection shall be conducted within 7 days after a move-in. For protection of incoming residents and to help protect unit owners and the association from liability, any necessary treatment shall be conducted before a move-in.

If physical evidence of bed bugs is found in any unit, or conditions in any neighboring unit warrant, treatment shall be scheduled within 7 days. Unit owners and residents shall cooperate with any request by the association to schedule and conduct such treatments. A licensed and insured pest control operator will be responsible for conducting treatments and determining if treatment in neighboring units, also known as “box-in” treatments, are necessary. No treatment of any kind will be allowed by unit owners/residents who are not properly licensed and insured.

The association will schedule treatment through its certified inspection team or pest control operator of record. However, the unit owner may choose a company that meets the following criteria:

1. The exterminator shall have a valid pest control operator’s license and shall carry a minimum of $1,000,000 general liability and $500,000 workers compensation insurance.
2. A proposal detailing the planned treatment process shall be reviewed and found acceptable by the association’s pest control operator.
3. The association shall be allowed to conduct a follow up inspection within 30 days of completed treatment.
4. The pest control operator will provide the owner and management a written report of findings and certification that the treatment is complete.

Often times, proper treatment for bed bugs will include extensive in-unit preparations. Unit owners and residents shall comply with any instructions to prepare the unit. If preparations are deemed insufficient by the pest control operator, a follow up treatment may be scheduled.

Bed bug treatment will be considered successful after passing a follow up inspection. Typically this will be scheduled within 30 days following treatment. If physical evidence of bed bugs is found, retreatment will be scheduled.

Consistent with the City of Chicago Bed Bug Ordinance, Unit owners who rent and their tenants shall also have the following specific responsibilities:

Tenant Responsibilities:

1. Notify your landlord within 5 days of suspecting a bed bug infestation.
2. Cooperate with  the  landlord  by  adhering  to  the  following:  Don’t  interfere  with  an inspection  or  with  a  treatment; grant  access  to  your  unit for  an  inspection  or  a treatment;  make  the  necessary  preparations  as  instructed  by  your  landlord  or  a  pest control operator; prior to an inspection or a treatment dispose of  any items that a pest control operator has determined cannot be treated or cleaned; and enclose in a plastic bag any personal property that will be moved through the common areas of the building or stored in any other location.

Landlord Responsibilities:

1. Educate tenants about bed bugs by providing the City of Chicago Preventing Bed Bug Infestations in Apartments brochure when tenants sign a new or renew an existing lease or other rental agreement.
2. Notify tenants prior to any inspection or treatment of their unit for bed bugs and provide instructions for preparing the unit.
3. Coordinate with the association through management to get rid of the bed bug infestation by allowing or providing service by a licensed and insured pest control operator.

Cost of Bed Bug Inspection and Treatment

The cost of bed bug inspection and treatment services conducted by association vendors is subject to change. Therefore, these services will not be listed on the Park Tower Fee Schedule. Interested unit owners/residents should inquire directly to the Management Office for the current anticipated cost of services.

The cost of all proactive and “box-in” inspections conducted by a trained canine scent detection team is included in the regular assessments. The cost of canine inspections for moves is included as a part of the registration fee paid by all new residents. The cost of scheduled treatments and all other inspections is the responsibility of the individual unit owner, except as noted below. Where “box-in” treatments are deemed necessary by the pest management company, the association is responsible for treatment. Should the unit owner/resident opt for human inspections as an alternative to the canine team, the unit owner is responsible for any difference in cost.

Park Tower Condominium Association will pay for up to one bed bug treatment per unit per year under the following set of circumstances:

1. Either the resident shall have self-reported the presence of bed bugs (confirmed by canine or human inspection) or bed bugs are found during a regularly scheduled proactive bed bug inspection. The level of infestation should not be found to be severe in the opinion of the association’s pest management company.
2. The resident shall have participated in at least one of the past year’s regularly scheduled proactive inspections. In the case of a resident who has moved in within the past year, the move-in inspection shall have been performed and passed with no alert.
3. The exterminator confirms that treatment preparations which are the responsibility of the occupant were substantially completed.
4. The resident shall have purchased mattress and box spring encasements for the each bed in the unit as a part of the treatment process.
5. The treatment is coordinated and completed by the association’s pest management company.
6. Residents occupying the unit at the time of the infestation shall have attended the New Resident meeting.

The association will not pay for services provided by another vendor. The cost of any missed appointments for inspections or treatments will be the responsibility of the unit owner. This includes units not fully prepared in advance, or for inspectors and exterminators turned away at the door. If the vendor shows up, the association will still be charged, and any expense shall be passed on to the individual owner.

This policy may change by resolution of the board if there are necessary procedural changes or financial conditions that warrant consideration.

If you have any questions, or want to report a suspected pest problem, contact our team immediately during business hours at 773-769-3250, or anytime via e-mail at parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com.