Your place · When something goes wrong

Roaches, mice and bed bugs

Tell your landlord in writing the day you see signs. Then cut off food, water and hiding spots, seal small gaps, and use traps or baits instead of sprays. Bed bugs need a professional and your landlord's help.

Moderate2 hours, then weekly checks$10 to $30 for traps and caulkChecked October 3, 2026

You'll need

Your phone, for photos
Airtight food containers
Steel wool and caulk
Snap traps (mice) and sticky traps or baits (roaches)
A vacuum and sealable trash bags

What to know

Tell your landlord in writing, with photos. Many leases and states put pest control on the landlord. In New York, an insect infestation can breach the landlord's duty to keep the home livable. Source: NY AG⁶ For bed bugs, notify your landlord. Landlords may have to take part in treatment. Source: EPA⁵
Cut off food and water. Keep food in thick plastic, metal or glass containers with tight lids, clean spills right away, and don't leave pet food or water out overnight. Source: CDC¹ Cockroaches can't survive and reproduce without food and water, so fix leaky faucets too. Source: U of Minnesota⁴
Mice: seal the gaps. A mouse can fit through a hole the width of a pencil, about 1/4 inch. Fill small holes with steel wool and caulk around it. Source: CDC¹ Check under sinks, behind appliances and around pipes.
Mice: trap them. Snap traps work. Put them along walls where you see droppings. Source: CDC²
Roaches: sticky traps tight against walls, in cupboards and around the fridge, stove and sink show you where they are. Baits come in child-resistant containers. For sprays and other pesticides, it's best to hire a pest professional. Source: U of Minnesota⁴
Bed bugs: check mattress seams and the bed frame. Wash bedding and clothes, and run them in a dryer on high heat. Source: EPA⁵ Cut clutter and vacuum, then empty the vacuum into a sealed bag outside. Source: EPA⁵ Expect a professional treatment.

Watch out Don't sweep or vacuum mouse droppings. That can stir up germs. Wet them with disinfectant first, then wipe up with paper towels while wearing gloves. Source: CDC³ And never try to cook bed bugs out with a space heater or by cranking the thermostat. It doesn't work and it's dangerous. Source: EPA⁵

A repair request you can copy

Subject: Pest problem, [address, unit #]

Hi [name],

On [date] I found [roaches in the kitchen / mouse droppings under the sink / bed bugs on the mattress]. Photos attached. I've cleaned up and stored food in sealed containers.

Please arrange pest treatment by [date]. Let me know what I should do to prepare.

Thank you,
[your name] · [phone]

See it done

Video by Utah State University Extension University

How to Identify Bed Bugs

Watch on YouTube: How to Identify Bed Bugs

2011 · Checked October 3, 2026

This one's about spotting bed bugs, from 2011. Roaches and mice are in the steps, and treatment starts with telling your landlord.

Video won't load at school or work? No problem. Everything you need is in the steps; the video's just a bonus. Watch it on YouTube later.

If it doesn't work

Landlord won't respond? Follow up in writing and keep a log. See Your rights as a tenant for what to do when repairs don't happen.
Still seeing roaches after two weeks? Look for a hidden water source, and put traps where you catch the most. Source: U of Minnesota⁴
Worried about a big rodent problem? Your local or state health department can help. Source: CDC¹

Good to know

The details, if you want them. Tap a line to open it.

California's bed bug rules

Before a new tenancy, a California landlord must give written information about bed bugs. If they learn of a possible infestation, they must inspect. Source: California DRE⁷

Moving boxes

Cockroaches hide in cardboard. Don't store boxes on the floor against walls in an infested building. Source: U of Minnesota⁴

Freezing works only if it's cold enough

Freezing can kill bed bugs, but only if the freezer is at 0°F. Source: EPA⁵

Take it with you

Printable card Download card (PDF)

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention How to seal up to prevent rodents
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention How to trap up rodents
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention How to clean up after rodents
University of Minnesota Extension Cockroaches
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Do-it-yourself bed bug control
New York State Attorney General Residential Tenants' Rights Guide
California Department of Real Estate California Tenants guide: Landlord's disclosures

Lesson H2.4 · Last checked October 3, 2026 against the sources listed.

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