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Keeping Bed Bugs From Student Accommodation

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If you’re moving into student accommodation or already living in halls, shared housing, or private student lets, bed bugs probably aren’t something you expected to deal with. But they’re becoming more common in student areas across the UK, and knowing how to spot, prevent, and tackle them early can save you a lot of hassle.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about how bed bugs end up in student properties, how to handle them without panic, and when it’s time to ask for professional help.

Why Are Bed Bugs a Problem in Student Accommodation?

Student housing is often the perfect environment for bed bugs to spread. You’ve got multiple people living close together, sometimes with high turnover between terms or shared furniture. That means lots of opportunities for these pests to hitch a ride and settle in.

Students also tend to travel a lot, moving between family homes, university cities, and even travelling abroad during breaks. All of that movement increases the chances of picking up bed bugs — especially if you’re staying in hotels or hostels. And once you’ve got them, they’re good at hiding and very hard to get rid of.

Unlike other pests, bed bugs aren’t attracted by mess or food. They feed on blood and hide during the day, which means even clean homes can get infested. And because they’re tiny and nocturnal, they often go unnoticed until the bites start.

How to Spot Bed Bugs in Your Student Room

Bed bugs are small — adults are about the size of an apple seed — and they’re usually reddish-brown. You might see them crawling across your mattress or furniture if the infestation is large. But early on, you’re more likely to notice the signs they leave behind.

Look out for:

Itchy bites in rows or clusters, often on your arms or legs
Tiny blood spots on your sheets
Small dark marks (their droppings) along mattress seams or baseboards
A musty or sweet smell in the room if the infestation is bad

If you suspect bed bugs, the first thing to do is not panic — and definitely don’t start moving your stuff around. That’s one of the quickest ways to spread them.

What to Do If You Think You Have Bed Bugs

If you’re in university-owned halls, report it straight away to the accommodation team. They should organise a pest inspection for you. For private rentals, you’ll need to contact your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible. Under the Housing Act, they may have a responsibility to deal with pest problems depending on the tenancy agreement.

Don’t try to hide the issue or wait it out. Bed bugs don’t go away on their own. The longer you leave it, the harder (and more expensive) they are to get rid of.

While you wait for inspection or treatment, you can:

Avoid sleeping in other rooms or houses — you could carry the bugs with you
Keep your room tidy so the pest team can inspect properly
Bag up any clothes or bedding you’re not currently using
Wash and tumble dry clothes and sheets on the hottest setting you can safely use

Avoid spraying over-the-counter insecticides unless advised — they often don’t work well on bed bugs and could interfere with professional treatments.

Who’s Responsible for Dealing With Bed Bugs?

This depends on your rental situation. If you’re in halls, the university should usually arrange treatment. For private rentals, it depends on whether the infestation was already present or caused by the tenant’s actions.

If you’ve just moved in and discover bed bugs within a few days, it’s likely they were already there. In that case, it’s generally the landlord’s responsibility to sort it. But if you’ve been there a while and brought in second-hand furniture or returned from a trip with bugs in your luggage, it might be classed as a tenant issue.

That said, landlords often still arrange the treatment even if you’re technically at fault — because it protects their property. You might be asked to contribute to the cost, though.

Check your tenancy agreement for any clauses around pest control. And always keep records of your communication, just in case.

Can You Get Rid of Bed Bugs Yourself?

In small cases, it’s possible. Washing clothes and bedding at 60°C, vacuuming regularly, and using a steam cleaner on your mattress and soft furnishings can help reduce numbers. But bed bugs hide well — inside furniture joints, under carpet edges, behind plug sockets — and DIY methods often miss these.

If you live in shared housing, treating only your room rarely solves the issue. They’ll just move next door. That’s why professional treatment is usually the best route, especially if multiple rooms are involved.

Professionals use stronger insecticides and sometimes heat treatments that raise room temperatures high enough to kill bugs and eggs. They also know where to look — which makes a big difference.

Preventing Bed Bugs in Student Accommodation

The best way to deal with bed bugs is to stop them arriving in the first place. Here’s how you can reduce the risk:

Be careful when buying or accepting second-hand furniture — inspect it thoroughly
Avoid picking up free sofas or mattresses left out on the street
When travelling, check hotel beds and keep your suitcase off the floor
Don’t bring your luggage straight onto your bed after a trip
Wash your clothes after returning from holidays, especially if you stayed in shared accommodation
Keep clutter around your bed to a minimum — it gives bed bugs more places to hide

Encasements for your mattress and box spring can also help. They trap bed bugs inside so they can’t feed or escape, which eventually kills them off.

Can Bed Bugs Affect Your Health or Studies?

While bed bugs aren’t known to transmit disease, their bites can still cause a lot of distress. Some people react strongly to the bites, with swelling, itching, or allergic responses. Scratching can lead to infections, especially if you’re dealing with repeated bites every night.

But the biggest issue for students is probably sleep. Constant disruption, worry, and irritation can quickly affect your ability to focus and stay alert in lectures or exams. If you’ve ever tried to revise after a sleepless night, you’ll know how hard it is to concentrate.

There’s also a social side. People often feel embarrassed or anxious about bed bugs — even though they’ve got nothing to do with cleanliness. That stigma can make students reluctant to speak up, which only makes the problem worse.

Should You Hire a Professional If Your Landlord Won’t?

If your landlord refuses to take action or tries to delay treatment, you’ve got options. Start by documenting everything: photos of bites or bugs, messages sent, and any replies. Contact your student union or local council’s private housing team — they can offer support and advice.

You can also speak to Citizens Advice about your rights. In some cases, environmental health officers can step in if the property is deemed unsafe or unfit to live in.

If it comes down to it and you decide to pay for treatment yourself, make sure the provider is experienced in bed bug removal. Ask if they’re BPCA-registered, and get everything in writing.

Final Takeaway: Don’t Wait, Act Early

Bed bugs are a growing issue in student accommodation across the UK. But if you know what to look for and act quickly, they don’t have to ruin your term.

Early action is the key. Whether it’s flagging the issue with your university, informing your landlord, or getting help from a pest control service — the sooner you do something, the easier it is to fix.

You deserve a safe, clean space to study and sleep. Don’t let bed bugs take that away from you.