Local Law 69 - Annual Bedbug Reporting

Bedbug Reporting 

Owners are now required to submit bedbug infestation and treatment records with HPD annually. Property owners will be required to file annually between December 1st and December 31st for the previous year from November 1st through October 31st.   

Complete your Annual Bed Bug Report. Pursuant to the law, HPD will make the submitted information publicly available through HPDONLINE. Property owners must file a Bedbug Annual Report even if the building is bedbug-free.

The online application will only allow validly registered property owners and managing agents of multiple dwellings to disclose bedbug infestation history. A building’s property registration must be current.

Owners must attempt to obtain information from the tenant or unit owner, and include the following in their reports:  

• The number of dwelling units;  
• The number of dwelling units, as reported or otherwise known to the owner, that had a bedbug infestation during the previous year; 
• The number of dwelling units, as reported or otherwise known to the owner, in which eradication measures were employed during the previous year for a bedbug infestation; 
• The number of dwelling units reported in number 3 that had a bedbug infestation after such eradication measures were employed in such units.  

In addition to submitting reports, owners are also responsible for:

• Distributing a copy of the electronic report form to each tenant during lease renewal/new lease commencement OR
• Posting the report form in a prominent location in the building within 60 days of filing.

Once the Bed Bug Annual Report has been filed, the property owner is required to either provide the filing receipt to each tenant (upon commencement of a new lease and with each lease renewal) OR post the filing receipt in a prominent location in the building. In addition, the property owner must either distribute to each tenant or post the DOHMH Preventing and Getting Rid of Bedbugs Safely guide, which provides information on the prevention, detection, and removal of bedbugs.

If you do not have access to a computer or email, you can file a report using this form. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Please note that New York State law requires property owners to disclose bedbug infestation history dating back one year to new tenants through the Bedbug Disclosure Form.

Resources

FAQ

Are property owners required to file bedbug infestation history for each dwelling unit?

Property owners are required to file an aggregate report of the bedbug infestation history of the multiple dwelling that includes infestation history for all units – not an infestation history for an individual dwelling unit.

What if a tenant doesn’t want to provide bedbug infestation history?

If the property owner has exercised reasonable care to inspect, investigate for, and exterminate bedbugs in the unit, and the tenant has not made a complaint about the presence of bedbugs in the unit within the reporting period, the property owner does not need to include the unit in the number of dwelling units reported as infested during the reporting period. However, the unit must still be reported when prompted to enter the number of dwelling units in the multiple dwelling. The owner must employ best efforts to obtain information from all tenants.

Does the owner of multiple dwelling properties have to register a new account for each building?

A property owner can create one account and enter bedbug infestation history for each multiple dwelling. Please note that the property owner is required to file infestation history for each multiple dwelling; not an aggregated infestation history of all the multiple dwellings owned.

Are there any additional requirements after the electronic filing?

Yes. Upon completion of the filing, the property owner will receive a Bedbug Annual Report Filing Receipt. The property owner must provide the tenant with a copy of the filing receipt upon each lease renewal, or at the start of a new vacancy lease OR the property owner can post the electronic form in a prominent location in the multiple dwelling. Please note that the property owner is also required to either distribute or post a copy of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bedbug Information Brochure. This brochure provides information about the prevention, detection and removal of bedbug infestation. The form must be posted within 60 days of the filing of the Bedbug Annual Report.

Can owners create their own template of the Bedbug Annual Report Filing Receipt to distribute to tenants or to post in a prominent location?

No. Property owners are required to distribute or post the electronic form established by HPD.

Does Local Law 69 of 2017 apply to co-ops?

Yes. Please also note that bedbug infestation history should be collected by the dwelling unit owner for any non-owner occupied co-op unit.

Does Local Law 69 of 2017 apply to condominiums?

Yes. Please also note that bedbug infestation history should be collected by the dwelling unit owner for any non-owner occupied condo unit.

Are property owners required to distribute the Bedbug Annual Report to tenants that renewed a lease or signed a vacancy lease during the filing period?

Property owners are required to provide bedbug infestation history upon commencement of a new lease or renewal tenancy lease that begins after submission of the Bedbug Annual Report.