What is a bed bug addendum?
Bed bugs spread quickly through a building when they are hidden or treated badly with shop-bought sprays. A bed bug addendum gets both sides to agree in advance on early reporting and proper professional treatment, which keeps the cost and disruption down for everyone.
The landlord picks a disclosure statement — no known infestation, a past one in the property, or one elsewhere in the building — and can describe the treatment that was done. The tenant agrees to check the home within a set number of days, check second-hand furniture before moving it in, report signs quickly and follow the pest controller's instructions. You choose who pays for treatment, with the tenant's own belongings always on the tenant.
- Best for
- New leases, especially in apartment buildings or older housing
- Signed by
- Landlord and tenant, initialled on every page
- Cost options
- Landlord pays for the property, or tenant pays where they brought them in
- Length
- 2 pages
When to use a bed bug addendum
- A building that has had a bed bug problem in another unit
- A unit treated for bed bugs earlier in the year
- A city or state that expects written bed bug disclosure at lease signing
- Furnished rentals where mattresses and sofas are provided
- Bringing older leases in line before renewal
What you fill in
11 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: landlord, tenant.
1 The lease
- Date of this addendum*
- Landlord or managing agent*
- Tenant name(s)*
- Address of the rented property*
- Date of the lease*
2 Disclosure
- What the landlord knows about bed bugs* The Landlord is not aware of any bed bug infestation in the Property or the building in the last 12 months. · The Landlord is aware of a past bed bug infestation, described below, which was treated. · The Landlord is aware of a past or current bed bug issue in another unit of the building, described below.
- Details of past infestation and treatment (optional)
3 Inspection and reporting
- Days for the tenant to inspect after moving in*
- Report signs of bed bugs to*
4 Cost
- Who pays for treatment* The Landlord pays for professional treatment of the Property. The Tenant pays for treating or replacing the Tenant's own belongings. · The Landlord pays for professional treatment of the Property, unless an inspection shows the Tenant or the Tenant's guests brought the bed bugs in, in which case the Tenant pays the reasonable cost as far as the law allows. The Tenant pays for treating or replacing the Tenant's own belongings.
- Governing law*
5 Who signs
- Landlord signature and date, initials on every page · The landlord or the managing agent who signs leases for the landlord.
- Tenant signature and date, initials on every page · The tenant. If several tenants are on the lease, name them all above and have each one sign.
What the bed bug addendum covers
- Why this Addendum
- Landlord's disclosure
- Tenant's inspection
- Reporting
- Treatment
- Cost
- General
Using the bed bug addendum, step by step
1 Link it to the lease
Enter the landlord, tenant, property address and the lease date.
2 Make the disclosure
Choose the statement that fits what you know, and describe any past infestation and how it was treated.
3 Set inspection and reporting
Give the number of days the tenant has to inspect after moving in and the phone number or email for reports.
4 Agree the cost and sign
Choose the cost rule, add the governing law and send. Both parties initial every page and sign at the end.
Tips before you send it
- Check local law first: some places require a bed bug disclosure form, a pamphlet or a set look-back period, and some always put treatment costs on the landlord.
- Keep pest control invoices and inspection reports in your vault — they back up the disclosure.
- In a multi-unit building, inspect neighbouring units when one is treated.
- Respond to the first report quickly. A week's delay can turn one room into a whole floor.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Bed bug addendum: frequently asked questions
Does the landlord have to disclose past bed bugs?
In some places, yes, for a set period. The addendum gives three disclosure statements and a details field, and the Help text asks you to check what your local law requires.
Why can't the tenant just use a spray?
Over-the-counter sprays and foggers often push bed bugs into walls and neighbouring units. The addendum asks the tenant to report instead and leaves treatment to a licensed professional.
Who pays if the tenant brought them in?
That's your choice, within the law. One option keeps all treatment of the property on the landlord. The other lets the landlord recover the reasonable cost where an inspection shows the tenant or a guest brought them in, as far as the law allows.
Can a lease addendum be signed electronically?
Yes, a lease addendum is the kind of everyday agreement that e-signature laws such as the US ESIGN Act, UETA, eIDAS and UK law cover. FileIt records each signature and initial and adds a Certificate of Completion.