Help with Moving costs due to Bed Bug infestation
Donation protected
I recently found out that my building is getting infested with bed bugs. It was supposedly an ongoing problem that I wasn’t aware of, but I started to get bitten last week. I spoke with my neighbors and one of the units in the building was fumigated 3 weeks ago. It is obvious that the bugs are migrating from their apt to a place with no poisons (mine).
When I contacted the management company, they sent me the company’s own exterminator, who gave me a list of unrealistic guidelines to prepare my apartment unit.
The list was quite extensive, that I need to remove EVERYTHING off the closet, bookshelves, dressers, cabinets, and wash every clothing and shoes and anything washable in hot water, dry in high heat setting for minimum 45 minutes, and put them in plastic bags, seal them, and leave it in the center of the room (or kitchen). I was to move all the furniture at least 24 inches off the walls and dismantle my beds and put the mattress upside up. All corners of the carpeting needs to be lifted up. And the list just keeps going.
I was also told that I have to be out of the apt during the fumigation. I am not allowed to return at least 6 hours after the treatment. And they needed to do this 3 times in the course of 3 weeks. In between the treatment, I am to vacuum twice a day, and wash linens and beddings everyday. I am also not allowed to put anything back into places until at least a week after the final treatment. 4 weeks. That’s how long it will take to get rid of the bugs. And even if I got my apt fumigated, if all the rest of the building doesn’t get fumigated at the same time, it’s pretty much meaningless.
So it got me to thinking, who on the Earth have the time and energy to do all this when I am working full time from home, taking care of Logan on my own (those of who didn’t know this already, Louis and I have been separated for over 3 years now), supervising him during the remote learning etc etc etc? Where do I put all my stuff? Where do I go during the fumigation and those 6 hours after the treatment? Where do I teach when I don’t have access to my work area? What about my piano??
After days of stressing out, I found a company that would take care of all of the above. They would help me pack, take all my belongings out, sort out all my clothing and wash, fold, dry clean etc. Store them in a truck, fumigate with gas, and store everything until I find a new place to live. All this, at a whopping cost of $3800.
The management company refused to help with ANY extra costs in regards to preparation. They would NOT pay for hotel rooms. I was told they will take a legal action if I didn’t pay the next month’s rent (not that I want to stay here next month...) They said I was being unreasonable and uncooperative. And it even went in saying that if I don’t cooperate and refuse to get fumigated (which isn’t true at all), they will Bill me for the building’s damages.
I contacted the health department. I contacted the housing department. I called lawyers office. I emailed the councilman and the mayor. All turn out fruitless. No one was able to help me.
I am at loss. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. All my families are in Japan. I feel alone and helpless and defeated.
I know everyone is struggling. But I have to find a new place to live. I HAVE to get out of here so I can live and sleep without getting bit nightly.
Will you please help me by contributing $10-20? If 100 of my friends in Facebook contribute $20, that would still help me cover some of the moving cost.
Will you please help me?
Ayako
When I contacted the management company, they sent me the company’s own exterminator, who gave me a list of unrealistic guidelines to prepare my apartment unit.
The list was quite extensive, that I need to remove EVERYTHING off the closet, bookshelves, dressers, cabinets, and wash every clothing and shoes and anything washable in hot water, dry in high heat setting for minimum 45 minutes, and put them in plastic bags, seal them, and leave it in the center of the room (or kitchen). I was to move all the furniture at least 24 inches off the walls and dismantle my beds and put the mattress upside up. All corners of the carpeting needs to be lifted up. And the list just keeps going.
I was also told that I have to be out of the apt during the fumigation. I am not allowed to return at least 6 hours after the treatment. And they needed to do this 3 times in the course of 3 weeks. In between the treatment, I am to vacuum twice a day, and wash linens and beddings everyday. I am also not allowed to put anything back into places until at least a week after the final treatment. 4 weeks. That’s how long it will take to get rid of the bugs. And even if I got my apt fumigated, if all the rest of the building doesn’t get fumigated at the same time, it’s pretty much meaningless.
So it got me to thinking, who on the Earth have the time and energy to do all this when I am working full time from home, taking care of Logan on my own (those of who didn’t know this already, Louis and I have been separated for over 3 years now), supervising him during the remote learning etc etc etc? Where do I put all my stuff? Where do I go during the fumigation and those 6 hours after the treatment? Where do I teach when I don’t have access to my work area? What about my piano??
After days of stressing out, I found a company that would take care of all of the above. They would help me pack, take all my belongings out, sort out all my clothing and wash, fold, dry clean etc. Store them in a truck, fumigate with gas, and store everything until I find a new place to live. All this, at a whopping cost of $3800.
The management company refused to help with ANY extra costs in regards to preparation. They would NOT pay for hotel rooms. I was told they will take a legal action if I didn’t pay the next month’s rent (not that I want to stay here next month...) They said I was being unreasonable and uncooperative. And it even went in saying that if I don’t cooperate and refuse to get fumigated (which isn’t true at all), they will Bill me for the building’s damages.
I contacted the health department. I contacted the housing department. I called lawyers office. I emailed the councilman and the mayor. All turn out fruitless. No one was able to help me.
I am at loss. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. All my families are in Japan. I feel alone and helpless and defeated.
I know everyone is struggling. But I have to find a new place to live. I HAVE to get out of here so I can live and sleep without getting bit nightly.
Will you please help me by contributing $10-20? If 100 of my friends in Facebook contribute $20, that would still help me cover some of the moving cost.
Will you please help me?
Ayako
Organizer
Ayako Morino
Organizer
Jersey City, NJ