I live in a NYC co-op building. We had a rough 2018 - brought in the dogs, eventually 10 apartments in all were found to need treatment. (A few apartments were found to have obvious infestations that had not been reported.) Luckily treatment was successful for 9 apartments, but one of the neighbors, a classic NYC hoarder, has refused any type of treatment and claims to have a medical condition prohibits use of chemicals or dusts. The building has been in court with him now for 8 months with virtually no progress. Heat treatment and temporary relocation to a hotel were also refused (and in any event would still require the apartment to be cleaned out/prepped). Now the upstairs apartment has been reinfested by bedbug overflow (has been treated three times so far but the bugs come back). It feels like the court just doesn't care about anyone's rights other than the tenant, when it is for his own good as well as ours to get the problem dealt with. The tenant actually admitted that he spends 30 minutes every morning and night just killing the bedbugs visible on his bed. Referrals were made to Adult Protective Services with no result (they decided not to take action). Calling the city to have violations issued isn't an option because they would just fine the cooperators and we'd have to go to court to get access, which we are already doing. It feels like there is no adequate recourse.
People ask me why I don't move but after experiencing this, it feels like in any multi-family dwelling you are at the mercy of your neighbors (reporting an infestation timely or cooperating with treatment). Not to mention the costs of selling. I feel like the powers that be are not treating bedbugs like the important issue it is with respect to requiring compliance.
Any advice or sympathetic ear is welcomed.