Peter Young, 41, a resident of 165 Ludlow St., recently won a rent abatement from a Housing Court judge after Young withheld rent payments over a bedbug infestation in his apartment. In the summer of 2003 Young discovered bedbugs were the reason for the bites on his body and why he couldn’t sleep at night. Helping tip him off, the landlord posted notices in the lobby about exterminating the parasites. Young withheld his $1,025-a-month rent from landlord Ludlow Properties for six months and the landlord took him to court. Exterminators visited his apartment several times but the problem persisted. Young threw out possessions and furniture — everything except heirlooms — attempting to rid himself of the apple-seed-sized, wingless critters — and has slept on a metal cot the last seven months, which helped somewhat. Based on the fact Young had not been allowed to get a good night’s sleep, Judge Cyril Bedford ruled Young would only have to pay 55 percent of his back rent. Bedbug infestations are reportedly rising nationally.
Readmore: https://www.amny.com/news/
