Burnside Avenue Apartments, LLC    |    Nancy Girard / Harvest Properties    |    East Hartford    ,    Connecticut 06108    Landlord Complaint 23-1410

I noticed Bed Bugs within a week of moving into my apartment. It took me this long to notice them because I have never encountered them and therefore did not know what I was looking for. I noticed the first Bed Bug crawling up my wall, it was a dark bug and I was unable to catch it. A couple of days later, I noticed a blood stain on my pillow case, flipped it over and there was another similar blood stain and a bug. I freaked out; I killed it and it was filled with blood. I didn’t know what this was. I was disgusted so I stripped my bed, immediately washed my sheets in very hot water, vacuumed, and put on new sheets. Again, I had no idea what I looking for, so I didn’t put the blood-filled bug and the bites on my skin together. I thought the bites were just a reaction to my new surroundings, i.e. the water, my new fabric softener (I have very sensitive skin). A couple of days later, I found another one of these bugs, same size and color; this one I caught. Now, I was officially disgusted and had to figure out what was going on. I talked to a couple of my friends (one who unfortunately dealt with Bed Bugs in her previous apartment) and researched online, and discovered that I, in fact, have Bed Bugs. So, I did what any good tenant does and tried to take care of the problem myself. I found an organic compound, Diatomaceous Earth, and laid it down in my entire apartment (it’s a studio, so there isn’t a specified “bedroom”). I let it sit for 48 hours like the directions said and then cleaned my apartment again. Upon doing this, I found a couple more Bed Bugs, very much alive. At this point, I decided I cannot do this, I cannot live like this. I called my landlord, left a message (because it was the weekend telling her what was going on), stripped my bed, packed up every single piece of laundry I own and headed to the Laundromat. I have since washed ALL of my clothes, moved in with one of my girlfriends for the time being, sprayed and bagged up and sealed (in black trash bags, sprayed with Bed Bug spray and sealed with clear tape) all my belongings besides my furniture and removed from the apartment. I simply want out of my lease without any harm to me. I did not bring these Bed Bugs in and I should not have to stay living in an apartment with the constant fear that they will come back.