Moving in NYC Without Bringing Bed Bugs Along

Updated October 11, 2026

Bed bugs are common in New York City, and moving is one of the ways they travel. NYC HPD says they can get into homes on used furniture, luggage and clothing, and along connecting pipes and wiring (NYC HPD: bedbugs). A few habits while you pack and unpack lower the risk a lot.

Know what to look for

NYC Health describes adult bed bugs as small insects with flat, brown oval bodies, about the size of an apple seed. They hide in mattress seams, box springs and cracks in furniture, floors and walls near where people sleep or sit (NYC Health: bedbugs). Check those places in your current home before you pack, so nothing moves with you.

Check used furniture first

NYC Health advises checking used furniture before you buy it (NYC Health: bedbugs). Use a flashlight along seams, under cushions and in joints and screw holes. If you are buying a sofa or a bed frame from a neighbor or a sale and need it moved, check it before it goes on any truck.

Packing clothes and linens

Wash and dry clothes and bedding before you pack them, and pack them in clean bags or closed bins.
If you use a shared laundry room, carry laundry in clean bags, move clothes from the dryer straight into the bags and fold them at home, as NYC Health suggests (NYC Health: bedbugs).
Clear clutter before the move. Fewer things means fewer places for bed bugs to hide (NYC Health: bedbugs).
In the new home, think about bed-bug-resistant covers for the mattress and box spring (NYC Health: bedbugs).

What your new building must share

In New York City, apartment building owners must file a Bed Bug Annual Report with HPD. They must then give each tenant the filing receipt when a new lease starts and with each renewal, or post it in a prominent place in the building. They must also give out or post the city’s “Stop Bedbugs Safely” guide. HPD makes the reported information public on HPDONLINE (NYC HPD: bedbugs), so you can look up a building before you sign a lease.

Owners must deal with bed bugs promptly, and New York State requires them to hire pest control professionals licensed by the State Department of Environmental Conservation to treat apartments (NYC HPD: bedbugs).

If you find bed bugs after the move

Tell the property owner first. If the owner does not deal with it, you can file a complaint online or call 311 (NYC HPD: bedbugs). NYC Health notes that clothes can be washed and most furniture can be treated; throw furniture away only if there is no acceptable treatment or a pest professional tells you to (NYC Health: bedbugs).

Before you ask for an estimate

If you know or suspect bed bugs in your current home, have the home treated before the move and mention it when you ask for an estimate, so the job can be planned the right way.

Questions we hear

Can bed bugs travel with a move?

Yes. NYC HPD says bed bugs can get into homes on used furniture, luggage and clothing.

How can I check a building for bed bugs before I sign a lease?

NYC building owners file an annual bed bug report with HPD. HPD makes the information public on HPDONLINE, and tenants get the filing receipt with a new lease or renewal, or it is posted in the building.

What should I do if I find bed bugs in my new apartment?

Tell the property owner. If the owner does not deal with it, file a complaint online or call 311.

How do I get a moving estimate?

Call (929) 232-3444 or use the quote form on our home page. The estimate is free and in writing.

Free written estimate: call (929) 232-3444 or use the quote form on our home page. Family business since 1999 · U.S. DOT No. 967970 (MC-432549) · NYSDOT 34875 · NJPM 000930 · Company facts

More moving guides

Rules change. We read the official pages linked here in October 2026; check the linked page before you rely on it.

Official sources

Moving guides · October 11, 2026