Bed Bugs in Student Accommodation: What to Do If You Find Them

Student accommodation — whether university halls, private halls, or shared houses — is among the most high-risk environments for bed bug infestations. High turnover of occupants, dense living conditions, and the movement of students and luggage between cities every term create ideal conditions for bed bugs to spread.

If you’ve just arrived at university, moved into a shared house, or returned from a trip and noticed unexplained bites, this guide explains exactly what to do.

Several factors make student properties particularly vulnerable:

• High turnover: Most student properties see a complete change of occupants every September, with hundreds of students moving through the same rooms over the years
• Second-hand furniture: Students commonly buy mattresses, sofas, and beds from Facebook Marketplace or charity shops — a prime route for bed bugs to enter
• Shared spaces: In halls and HMOs, bugs can spread through shared walls, corridors, and common areas
• Travel: Students returning from placements abroad or inter-railing trips can unknowingly bring bugs home in their luggage
• Under-reporting: Students are often unaware of the signs, embarrassed to report the problem, or unsure who to tell

Before you unpack, take five minutes to inspect the room. Look at:

• The mattress seams and corners — pull back the fitted sheet and check around the edges
• Behind the headboard — if it’s attached to the wall, shine your phone torch into the gap
• The bed frame joints and slats
• The bedside table, particularly inside any drawers and along the edges

Look for small reddish-brown bugs (apple-seed sized and flat), dark spots, tiny white eggs, pale shed skins, or small bloodstains. If you find anything suspicious, report it to accommodation management before you’ve even unpacked.

1. Report immediately and in writing. Email your accommodation provider, university accommodation office, or landlord as soon as you find signs of bed bugs. Include photos. A written record is essential.
2. Don’t move your belongings into other rooms. This can spread the infestation to other students’ rooms or to common areas.
3. Don’t attempt DIY treatment. Shop-bought sprays are ineffective against resistant bed bug populations and won’t reach eggs. They can also complicate professional treatment.
4. Bag your clothing and wash at 60°C. Seal items in bags first, take them directly to the washing machine, and tumble dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
5. Chase for professional treatment. University accommodation providers and private landlords are legally obliged to address pest infestations. If they don’t respond promptly, escalate to the university’s student welfare team, your student union, or the local council’s environmental health team.

Tip: If you’re in private rented accommodation, your landlord is responsible for arranging and paying for professional pest treatment in most circumstances. Don’t let them pressure you into handling it yourself. See our guide on landlord responsibilities for bed bugs.

If you’re in university-managed halls, the university is responsible for arranging and funding pest treatment. Report to the accommodation office and escalate to the university if they’re slow to act.

If you’re in a privately rented property (including private halls), your landlord is responsible. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 requires all rented properties to be fit for habitation — a bed bug infestation clearly fails that standard.

• Inspect the room before moving your belongings in
• Avoid buying second-hand mattresses or sofas — buy new if at all possible
• When returning from travel, wash all clothes immediately at 60°C
• Use a mattress encasement cover on your mattress to protect it and make future inspections easier
• Report any signs of bugs early — a small infestation is far easier to treat than a large one