§ 235-j Duty to inform of bed bug infestation

§ 235-j. Duty to inform of bed bug infestation. 1. Upon having knowledge of a bed bug infestation in a unit of a residential rental premises, the landlord or lessor of a residential rental premises shall provide written notice of such infestation to the landlord's tenants and lessees who reside in units on the premises immediately above, immediately below, and immediately adjacent to the infested unit. Such written notice shall be provided to such tenants and lessees within seventy-two hours of the landlord or lessor having knowledge of the bed bug infestation.

2. Upon having knowledge of a bed bug infestation in a common area of a residential rental premises, the landlord or lessor of the residential rental premises shall place notice of such infestation in a conspicuous location accessible to all tenants and lessees residing in the premises within seventy-two hours of the landlord or lessor having knowledge of the bed bug infestation.

3. Any notice required to be provided pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall not identify the infested unit or contain any personally identifying information of the tenant or tenants whose unit experienced the bed bug infestation.

4. Subdivisions one and two of this section shall not apply to a landlord or lessor that is subject to notice and remediation obligations related to bed bug infestations pursuant to a judicial order, legal settlement, or binding agreement with a federal, state, or local regulatory entity while such judicial order, legal settlement, or binding agreement is in effect.