Bed bugs can colonize a hotel room or short-term rental, like an Airbnb or Vrbo, in a matter of a few days. They may take substantially longer than that for a business or property owner to eliminate.
Guests who frequently travel or who have had the misfortune of encountering bed bugs at paid accommodations previously already know that it is a smart move to inspect under the mattress and in other hidden spaces in a hotel room before settling in for a stay. Otherwise, people may wake up with irritating bites all over their bodies or accidentally bring pests home with them. Bed bugs are more than just annoying. These are some of the expenses bed bugs cause that might lead to compensation claims from visitors at a hotel or Airbnb-type rental.
Medical costs
Depending on the extent of the bed bug infestation and the underlying health of the people in the family, exposure to bed bugs could very well mean that someone ends up requiring medical care. Children, older adults and those with compromised immune systems are among the most vulnerable. However, even otherwise healthy adults could end up developing an infection and requiring medical support following numerous bed bug bites.
Pest remediation services
Some people wake up after a night in a hotel room and realize that bed bugs have bitten them and can therefore take protective measures to prevent accidentally bringing the infestation home with them. Others might avoid fights initially but may end up with bed bugs on their clothing or in their luggage that travel back with the visitor to their primary residence. They may then have to pay quite a bit of money to address the infestation that develops in their home. The cost to remove bed bugs could potentially amount to thousands of dollars.
Expenses for alternate accommodations
Particularly when people are far from home and have planned a long-term stay, discovering bed bugs in a hotel or short-term rental might mean that those guests suddenly have to make last-minute arrangements elsewhere. They may end up paying a premium for accommodations because they don’t have time to shop around for the best price.
When bed bugs at an improperly-maintained vacation rental, motel or hotel cause major complications for visitors who paid for a stay at the space, those affected parties may have the right to take action against the property owner or business. Holding a company accountable for inadequate cleaning and other consequences of a bed bug infestation can help protect consumers from the financial consequences of poor operational practices at hospitality facilities.