Disclose bedbug problems to renters: Sask. NDP

People looking for apartment rentals in Saskatchewan should be told if a unit has a history of bedbugs, the opposition NDP in the province say.

"If I was moving into an apartment complex that had bedbugs, I would like to know," Cam Broten, an NDP member of the legislature from Saskatoon, said Wednesday after introducing proposed amendments to the province's Residential Tenancies Act.

"What this legislation would allow is for landlords to disclose to renters, giving them the knowledge they need to make an informed decision."

If Broten's idea is adopted, the new measure would require Saskatchewan landlords to tell prospective tenants if there were any bedbug infestations in a building in the preceding three years.

'It is a public safety issue, and we have to deal with it.' Don Morgan, Saskatchewan justice minister

According to the NDP, a similar law is under consideration in Ontario. The Ontario proposal requires a bedbug history going back five years.

Saskatchewan's justice minister said disclosure of a past bedbug experienceis one thing, but he would like to see the actualinfestation problems addressed.

"More importantly, is finding out the source of where the bedbugs come from and having an inspection or a treatment program or something," Don Morgan said Wednesday.

"You know, it's one thing to run around and say, 'Well, I'm not staying here. I'm not staying there' because of the issue. I'd rather have a situation where you could say this one was inspected for bedbugs within the last number of days or weeks or fumigated or whatever the treatment."

According to both government and opposition MLAs, there have been an increasing number of complaints about bedbugs in apartments in Saskatchewan.

"In certain locations in Saskatoon, this has been a concern," Broten said. "This is a positive step that gives renters the ability to make an informed decision, and it allows landlords to be proactive in dealing with potential bedbug concerns in a building."

Morgan said he is aware of renter concerns and open to action.

"We have that for inspections for smoke detectors where they have to maintain a log as to when they checked the batteries on them," Morgan said, referring to existing legislation on fire safety.

"You know, the last thing I want to do is impose a financial hardship on a hotel owner or somebody that has an apartment block, but it is a public safety issue, and we have to deal with it."