Bed bugs in a rental

[bedbugnightmare]

My DD is having a nightmare. Moved into a new rental in London on Friday. Not cheap! Became apparent yesterday there were bed bugs. Not in her room - it's upstairs. But in her friends. They contacted the agent who told them to find a hotel. They have. Nothing in writing about reimbursing. They're just freaked - haven't unpacked anything. But housemate has bites and has seen the buggers on her bed. DD actually brought her own bed in so her's is clear.
Questions are - how much to the buggers spread? They're stopped unpacking, figuring its best to keep all their stuff in boxes and suitcases.
How can DD demand landlord pays for hotel until he starts sorting on Tuesday (bank holiday arrgghh).
I'm so angry they're paying so much money and the place is basically uninhabitable.
Any helpful advice would be appreciated x

The landlord must get a professional pest control company in. If they don't take it seriously, your DD and friends should contact the environmental health dept at the council who can take some enforcement action.

Thank you - good advice @dizzydizzydizzy

Pleasure. Tell your DD to take photos and communicate with the landlord in writing (email not WhatsApp). Emails are more formal and less likely to be misunderstood and therefore are better in legal proceedings.

Bed bugs are highly mobile and don’t just live in beds. They live under carpets / skirting boards etc. they are attracted by carbon dioxide so could easily have roamed from the bed upstairs to your DD’s room. The whole flat and all furnishings need to be professionally dealt with.

Your poor Dd. Horrible experience.

They get into wooden joints of furniture inc. bed frames and can be really hard to get rid off. Bedding including pillows duvets etc can need washing at high temperature. Yes get professionals in as a pain to get rid of once they take hold.

agent has said by text they'll reimburse the hotel and call pest people on tuesday (it's always a bank holiday when things go wrong isnt it?). No email comms yet but I've urged DD to switch to email to extract a promise that way. All three housemates go on holiday together on weds. Maybe they'll come back to a bug free abode?
I'm so cross!

@bedbugnightmare I found out about these by seeing a “Bed Bug Detector Dog” online.
London hotels have a bedbug problem- and good hotels hire the dog and handler to check for bugs.

Clothing can spread them, and there are certain Tube lines that are bad for bed bugs- They get carried there on people’s clothing.
Not sure which ones- Just that the bug search man said they were present on some tube trains.

They can last months without a blood meal.
Like fleas ,they are drawn to CO2 and warmth.

Bed bugs however don’t spread diseases.

Some small comfort .