Guides

Yes. Bed bugs live wherever people sit or sleep for long periods, and sofas are the most common place after beds, especially if someone sleeps on one. Most sofas can be treated with heat or a spray and steam course rather than thrown away.

One bed bug does not always mean an infestation, but it is a strong warning. Catch it, check the bed and the area around it carefully tonight, and if you find spotting, eggs or more bugs, or start getting bites, arrange an inspection quickly while it is still small.

Only if the tenancy agreement allows it and the landlord can show you caused the infestation. If the bugs were there before you moved in, came from a neighbour or came with the landlord's furniture, a deduction is hard to justify. Disputed deductions go to the deposit protection scheme, which decides on the evidence.

Yes. Bed bugs can crawl between flats through gaps around pipes, cables, skirting boards and floorboards, and along corridors, and they move faster when a neighbour's flat is treated or left empty. In a block or converted house, the flats either side, above and below should be checked whenever one is found.

Liverpool City Council runs a bookable pest control service and publishes bed bug advice, so check its pest control pages for what it currently treats and charges. If you rent, report bed bugs to your landlord or housing association first, because in most rented homes they arrange the treatment.