Flatbush Top Neighborhood For Bed Bugs, Study Finds

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — Flatbush renters are more likely to have a bed bug infestation than any other New York City residents, a new study found.

Flatbush topped a list of neighborhoods citywide with the highest rate of bed bug violations that was compiled by Localize.city and released Thursday.

Localize.city analysts found that out of 1,000 renting households, 18.1 reported a bed bug infestation between September 2013 and August 2018.

“Bedbug infestations are not only expensive and difficult to eradicate," Localize.city President Steve Kalifowitz said. "They are also notorious for spreading from apartment-to-apartment.”

While Flatbush took the lead in the list of neighborhood infestations (West Harlem came in second with a 17.13 rate and Morrisania came in third with 16.73), it was The Bronx that claimed the title of most infested borough.

"The Bronx consistently had the highest bedbug violation rates based on the number of violations per renting household," the report notes. "Brooklyn came in second."

To find out more about how the local real estate data website compiled its findings and what other regions are at risk, read the full report here.

Bed Bug Central public relations associate Calvin Allen shows a vial containing live bed bugs at the Bed Bug University North American Summit 2010 on September 22, 2010 in Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)