Updated: September 2026.
Bed bugs can affect hotels, homes and short-term rentals regardless of cleanliness. For Airbnb hosts, the priority is early detection and a controlled response rather than assuming an infestation reflects poor housekeeping.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on blood and commonly hide around beds, upholstered furniture, cracks and other sheltered areas. Because several insects and skin conditions can be mistaken for bed bug activity, suspected cases should be assessed carefully.
1. Train housekeeping teams to recognise warning signs
Cleaners are frequently the people who see bedrooms between every stay. They should know to report suspicious insects, spotting, shed skins or other unusual evidence rather than attempting to diagnose the problem themselves.
2. Include beds in property inspections
Regularly inspect mattress seams, bed frames, headboards and nearby furniture. Structured checks make it easier to notice changes between stays.
See StayinLondon's 100-point inspection process.
3. Reduce unnecessary hiding places
Keep bedrooms well maintained and avoid excessive clutter around beds. Repair loose fittings and damaged surfaces that make inspection more difficult.
4. Consider mattress encasements
Suitable encasements can make mattresses easier to inspect and protect, but they do not make a property immune from bed bugs. They should form part of a broader prevention and monitoring process.
5. What should you do if a guest reports bed bugs?
Take the report seriously and respond promptly. Ask for useful information without dismissing the guest's concern, document the report and arrange an appropriate inspection.
Avoid moving potentially affected soft furnishings or luggage through other rooms unnecessarily, as this can complicate containment.
6. Use a professional pest-control contractor
If bed bugs are suspected or confirmed, obtain advice from a qualified pest-control professional. Treatment method and preparation depend on the property and severity; a generic DIY approach can fail and prolong the problem.
7. Do not rely on ordinary turnover cleaning as treatment
Normal housekeeping is essential for guest standards but is not a substitute for professional pest treatment where an infestation exists.
Our Airbnb cleaning London guide explains the wider turnover process.
8. Document the incident
Keep inspection photographs, guest communication, contractor reports and treatment invoices. Documentation is useful for operational follow-up and any relevant platform or insurance process.
9. Decide when the property can safely reopen
Follow the pest-control professional's instructions on treatment, follow-up inspection and reoccupation. Avoid accepting a new arrival simply because the next booking is commercially inconvenient to cancel.
10. Review the response afterwards
Once resolved, review whether housekeeping training, inspection frequency or furnishing choices should change. The goal is to improve early detection rather than promise that an infestation can never occur.
Bed bugs, guest complaints and reviews
Handle guest communication factually and avoid making unsupported claims about the source of an infestation. Our guides to difficult guests and disputes and responding to negative reviews provide additional guidance.
Professional Airbnb operations in London
StayinLondon's Airbnb management service combines housekeeping, inspections, guest communication and maintenance coordination for London owners.
Request a free revenue estimate to discuss management for your property.
