Bedbugs
Bedbugs are insects which had almost disappeared from the radar since the end of the 1950s and which are today making a more than noticeable return in the news and the daily lives of the French. This comes, in part, from international trade and travel abroad.
There are several species of this harmful insect. The most widespread remains the Asian bedbug which is also the most harmful.
Bedbugs live in groups and can invade a house as well as an apartmentt. They are installed in bedding but also in furniture, walls or parquet floors, in particular. They proliferate very quickly and it quickly becomes annoying. The bites are very unpleasant because they itch a lot.
To fight against bedbugs: an interministerial plan
Every year, more than 200,000 infestations are reported and this figure is constantly increasing. The government has therefore put in place, since 2020, a plan to eliminate bedbugs. It is a project which includes support for less well-off households and financial aid paid through the CAF.
Fighting against bedbugs is absolutely essential because it can quickly turn into a nightmare for building residents. Indeed, bedbugs tend to invade even adjacent apartments and multiply quickly.
The ministerial plan also intends to make the responsibility of the owner-lessor even clearer. Since the Elan law which dates from the end of 2018, it must guarantee decent housing and that there is no infestation of harmful or parasitic species.
For several years, a free information number and a website have been set up to provide you with information in the event of an infestation:
- 0 806 706 806
- stop-punaises.gouv.fr
How to get state aid?
The interministerial plan implemented since 2020 therefore allows you to benefit from several support measures to combat bedbugs. This includes :
- financial assistance from CAF. This fully covers the costs of treatment against bedbugs, up to €600. To be able to receive this aid, you must be a recipient and have modest resources. This assistance is granted according to the severity of the infestation as well as its impact on the health and safety of the inhabitants of the accommodation,
- financial assistance from ANAH, if you are an owner-lessor. This takes the form of a grant and covers up to 50% of treatment costs, up to €10,000. It is paid according to resource conditions as well as energy performance criteria.
- Subsidies for residents of the capital, paid by the Paris City Hall. This concerns individuals and landlords and covers up to 50% of costs up to €1,500.
If you want to receive this aid, you must prepare an application file and submit it to the organization concerned: CAF, ANAH or the Housing and Housing Department of Paris City Hall.
Getting rid of bedbugs
To get rid of bedbugs as soon as you notice their presence, you must act quickly and effectively. You must first vacuum your entire home, without ignoring the baseboards or the spaces between the boards of a parquet floor. Vacuuming does not kill bedbugs so throw the bag away afterwards.
We also advise you to wash your textiles at 60° (when possible). The most fragile materials can be frozen for 72 hours. Bedbugs cannot tolerate extreme temperatures.
Do not use conventional insecticides, bedbugs are resistant to it and it can be bad for your health or that of your pets. Better to call a pest control professional.