Bed bugs
How do you get bed bugs?
Bed bugs come from another place that already has them: a hotel or hostel bed, a second-hand mattress or sofa, or the flat next door. They are not a sign of a dirty home, and they do not come from the garden.
- Carried in, never bred from dirt
- The four usual routes in
- Can bed bugs live in your hair or on your body?
- Pets, birds and the garden
- Why an empty room does not starve them
- If you rent
- What to do once you find one
Carried in, never bred from dirt
Bed bugs feed on human blood, so they live where people sleep and sit for hours at a time. A home gets them when live bugs or eggs are carried in from somewhere that is already infested. They always come from somewhere else, and they are not drawn to crumbs or rubbish.
The NHS says they are found in both clean and dirty places, and council advice agrees that they are not attracted to dirt. An infestation tells you where you have been or what you have brought home, not how you keep house.
They do not fly or jump. Adults are about 5 mm long, flat and reddish-brown, and they crawl. Being flat lets them hide in seams, joints and cracks, which is how they travel in bags and furniture without being noticed.
The four usual routes in
| Route | How it happens | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | Bugs in a hotel, hostel or holiday let crawl into a case or clothes left on the bed | Mattress seams and headboard before you unpack |
| Second-hand furniture | Bugs and eggs hide in the joints of beds, sofas and mattresses | Seams, joints and screw holes before it comes indoors |
| Next door | In flats and terraces they move through gaps in walls and around pipes | Bites that start in a room on a shared wall |
| Visitors and moves | Bags, coats and boxes from an infested home, including student moves | Where guests leave bags; boxes from an old address |
Colchester City Council links the rise in reports to infested second-hand furniture, people moving between rented homes, guests' luggage, more travel, and central heating that lets bed bugs breed all year.
Can bed bugs live in your hair or on your body?
No. Unlike head lice, bed bugs do not live on people. They come out to feed, usually at night, then walk back to a hiding place in the bed frame, mattress seams, skirting or behind a picture. That is why bites tend to show on skin left uncovered in bed, such as the face, neck and arms, often in a line or a small group.
A bug can ride in clothing, but council guidance from Northern Ireland describes that as very rare. Luggage and furniture carry them far more often, because they give bugs somewhere dark and still to sit.
Pets, birds and the garden
The common bed bug prefers people. Council guidance notes that it can feed on cats, dogs and rodents, and that bird nests can be a source, but a pet does not carry bed bugs around in its coat the way it carries fleas. Bites that cluster below the knees in a home with a cat or dog are more likely to be fleas.
Think back over the last few weeks. A trip, a guest, a new-to-you bed or sofa, or a neighbour with bites is the likely start.
Why an empty room does not starve them
Council leaflets say adult bed bugs can survive for up to a year without feeding. A spare room left empty for a few weeks, a bed stored in a garage, or a flat between tenants can still hold live bugs. Starving them out is not a realistic plan.
Sleeping in another room can carry them there, so stay in your own bed until the room is treated. Do not put a mattress or sofa out on the street, because someone else will take the bugs home.
If you rent
Shelter's advice for England is that a landlord must deal with an infestation caused by a repair they are responsible for, and should sort out pests that were there when you moved in. A tenant is responsible only if they do something to encourage pests.
Bed bugs are often carried in, so responsibility can be argued either way. Bugs coming through from the flat next door, or present when you moved in, point to the landlord. Report it in writing, keep a copy, and if it is not resolved, environmental health at the council can inspect, because pests can be a housing hazard.
What to do once you find one
- Keep the bug in a sealed bag, or take a sharp photo, and compare it with our bed bug identification guide.
- Wash bedding and clothes on a hot wash (60°C) and tumble dry on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes, as the NHS advises.
- Put anything that is not washable in a plastic bag in the freezer for two to three weeks.
- Ask the council whether it treats bed bugs, or call a pest controller. See what bed bug treatment involves and what it costs.
Home remedies rarely clear an established infestation. Our DIY guide explains what helps while you wait for treatment.
Will the council do it?
Councils that treat it
115of 361 UK councils we checkedMedian council fee
£186.26bed bugs, 113 councils that chargeFree to residents
3councils, sometimes with conditions
Council fees for bed bugs run from £35.60 to £871.50. Find your council's fee
Questions people ask
Do bed bugs mean my house is dirty?
No. The NHS says they are found in clean and dirty places. They arrive on luggage, furniture or from next door.
Can you bring bed bugs home from a hotel?
Yes, it is one of the common routes. Check the mattress seams and headboard, keep your case on a rack away from the bed and walls, and wash clothes hot when you get home.
Can bed bugs come through the wall from next door?
Yes. In flats and terraces they spread through holes in walls and around pipes. Tell your landlord or managing agent, because neighbouring flats may need treating at the same time.
Do bed bugs carry disease?
The NHS says bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so and do not usually cause other health problems. See a GP if a bite is very painful, swollen or the swelling spreads.
How long can bed bugs live without feeding?
Council leaflets give up to a year for an adult, so an empty room or stored furniture can still be infested.