Council advances rental‑housing code change to address bed bugs and other pest infestations

The Manchester City Council voted to approve first consideration of an amendment to the city's rental‑housing code that would require rental units to be free of insect infestations, including bed bugs and fleas, and to provide model lease language tenants and landlords can use to clarify responsibilities.

Mayor Laura Thomas invited public‑health presenter Crystal Dshaw to explain the challenge. Dshaw said Iowa law currently provides minimal mandatory landlord responsibility for pest remediation and that ‘‘there is no law saying that that landlord has to cover it,’’ leaving low‑income tenants who cannot afford costly treatments especially vulnerable. She explained that heat treatments are expensive and can damage housing stock and that infestations spread easily between adjacent units and via used furniture.

The ordinance language council members discussed reads broadly — ‘‘free of insect infestations, including but not limited to bed bugs, fleas and other pests’’ — and was described as intentionally flexible so staff can apply judgment and later amend the code if necessary. Council members and a landlord representative discussed operational steps such as coordinating sanitation pickups when furniture is discarded and using a lease addendum as model language for landlords; some landlords already use USDA‑housing language in their leases, staff said.

Council members expressed concern about overbroad enforcement (for example, trivial insect sightings) and agreed the city would likely refine the ordinance in practice. The measure passed first consideration on a voice vote with recorded affirmative votes from Councilmembers Marian, Joe, Brian and Linda. The ordinance will return for subsequent consideration and possible amendment before final adoption.

What it means: If ultimately adopted, the code change will give the city a formal basis to require landlords to maintain rental units free of major insect infestations, offer template language landlords can insert into leases, and provide the city with standard procedures to follow when infestations are reported. Staff emphasized that enforcement depends on tenant reporting, available evidence and the limits of local authority under Iowa law.

Next steps: The council said staff will use the model language and experience from local landlords to refine enforcement guidance and will bring the ordinance back for further readings and possible edits before final adoption.