Q: I rent a single-family home in VA. My landlord insists the lease requires me to pay for bedbug treatment. Can I sue?
I discovered the bedbugs within a week of physically moving into the apartment, before I had moved in any of my furniture (so I am confident they did not come from the movers). The landlord insists that treating pests is a tenant responsibility. They initially refused to provide maintenance, but after insisting, they are now providing maintenance but insisting I pay for it. What legal recourse, if any, do I have?
A: In Virginia, a tenant can file a Tenant's Assertion to claim the premises is uninhabitable because of beg bugs. The Court will determine if the lease should be terminated and if rent will be abated. This is your recourse based on the facts you reported.
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