Landlords are legally obligated to provide hygienic and safe living conditions in Colorado. Many tenants of Liggins Tower, a senior living facility in the Park Hill district of Denver, meanwhile, feel powerless as a result of months of unresolved bed insect problems.
The 67-year-old Nora McClain has been fighting bed bugs in her apartment for several months.
“I had to get another mattress. Every time you turn around, you’ve got a note on your door.” A note alerting her to a treatment scheduled for May 21 was delivered to her door.
Only one active bed bug incidence had been recorded by the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment in a particular unit at the time the warning was sent, and property management was taking care of it.
However, several occupants reported that they were still having problems with the pests during a follow-up visit to the building on Friday.
“Fortunately, no one reported any rodent or roach issues, but it does appear there’s a multi-floor bed bug issue,” said Ben Gauwitz, a DDPHE health inspector.
One of the residents on the ninth floor displayed a Ziploc bag containing what he said were bed bugs that had been gathered from his apartment.
“How long have you been dealing with this?” we inquired.
“Eight months,” said the resident.
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Galen Gulley, a neighbor, was equally frustrated, calling the circumstances “miserable.” He claimed that once bed bugs infected the seams of his mattress, it had to be replaced.
“It wasn’t anything to have a couple bed bugs in my bed, but the mattress had to be replaced because they had gotten in the seams and laid eggs,” Gulley stated.
It took some time to notice improvement, even though Gulley claimed that things are getting better under the new property manager: “I was starting to lose hope.”
According to property management, the building received a score of 93 out of 100 on the most recent inspection. According to a corporate representative, “This score is a testament to our ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards for our residents.”
According to DDPHE, they will keep an eye on the property. Since property management is attempting to resolve the problems, no infractions were found following the most recent inspection.
The DDPHE’s Residential Health Program is a resource for anyone in need of assistance or facing comparable problems.
