We live in an apartment that has roaches. I told the landlord three months in to the year of our first year but he didn't do anything until 2 weeks ago. I have just recently sent our second year lease back last week. The roaches are getting worse. Is it grounds to request that I brake the lease? I have found a better apartment. When I move I do not want to take the roaches with me. How do I prevent that from happening?
2006-10-19 16:39:42 · 16 answers · asked by rara4h 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Rent a U-Haul truck or closed trailer to move with. Pack everything up like you normally would, and put it in the truck or trailer. Buy a bug-bomb that kills roaches like "Raid", and set it off in the truck or trailer --- check the label, most will treat a fair sized space. Wait 24 hours before opening the truck or trailer to remove your belongings. Wash everything that's washable -- clothes, dishes, curtains, ect. Wipe down everything else -- tables, chairs, end tables, ect. And hope for the best. We did this with some furniture that had been stored. The storage place had roaches, spiders and all sorts of creepy-crawlies. We loaded the trailer, set off the bug-bombs, and unloaded the trailer the next day. We didn't have a problem with bugs afterwards. Good luck!
2006-10-19 16:45:48 · answer #1 · answered by kc_warpaint 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, even the best apartments can have roaches. I was told that roaches like the glue in cardboard boxes, guess they eat it or lay their eggs in it or something?
l like the idea of the roach traps in all the boxes. Also could try moth balls. They seem to repel a lot of things. Best bet is to just unpack immediately, and get rid of the boxes, and be sure to go through everything really well.
IMO I'd say that's grounds to break a lease, but who knows. They get you over the barrel every time. My fiancee broke a lease in Florida, bad bad mold in the apt. Their idea of "fixing" it was to paint over it. Ended up in the ER with chest pains. He moved, they reported him to the credit bureau, dragged the score down a little. So, try to leave on good terms with the landlord if you can...........
2006-10-20 01:47:51 · answer #2 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that they crawl into the flaps of cardboard boxes & they like paper bags so if the new apartment is close maybe you could get some laundry baskets or rubber tubs & a mega fly swatter incase you do have a tag-along. You are just going to have to be careful when you pack & unpack.
An Orkin guy told me that roaches love toothpaste so make sure you always cap your tube. Isn't that GROSS????
I don't know about the grounds for breaking the lease...sometimes those contracts are air tight.
GOOD LUCK!
2006-10-19 23:47:42 · answer #3 · answered by flmomfl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one above has seemed to mention that if your apartment was recently treated for roaches - you may see a temporary increase in the problem. Many of the sprays used will actually flush the roaches out of hiding so that they can come into contact with the pesticide that has been sprayed. Call the exterminator directly to find out what results you should expect from the treatments recieved.
However, you've received many good suggestions for battling the roach problem - so let me give you some advice regarding the Landlord problem.
First of all - document, document, document. Keep a notebook of the dates, time and places you have discussed this with your landlord. Make note of any responses or lack thereof. Start communicating with your landlord in writing. Keep a copy for your file and mail the original "return receipt requested" so that have documentation as to when it was received and by whom. The more you have in writing - the better your case will be!
Check with your local housing authority to find out what your state and local laws require for early termination of your lease. (If you were in Kansas - I could give you step-by-steps.)
Talk to you neighbors. When you've got a pest problem - I can guarantee that they do too. (I once had a tenant repeatedly refuse our regular pest contol inspections and sprays due to her son's allergies. When she moved - I realized that her absolutely disgusting apartment was the source of the entire building's problem.) If your landlord treated your home - did he treat your neighbors homes too? If not - they'll just shift from place to place.
Good luck to you!
2006-10-20 02:20:54 · answer #4 · answered by just_Fia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you live somewhere cold, you should wash everything you have and leave it outside, not all piles up but spread out a little so the bugs will leave or die. If you don't only take what you REALLY need. I would leave radios and other small electronics. They can get into your TV too though. Take all your clothes to the laundry mat before taking them to the new place. Check cardboard boxes you use for bugs after bring your stuff in. If he doesnt let you out, threaten to call the baord of health and make a complaint against him with the city, it will get his attention, trust me good luck with the bugs
2006-10-19 23:44:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this happened to me once and i too had to move because of roaches invasion .i sprayed all my boxes with a roach spray and made sure none of them were in the boxes and put the folded clothes in garbage bags ,which i sealed very tightly ,i found one dead one after i moved , not guarantee it will work tough? i also prayed the new apt everywhere ....it is a pain !
good luck .......
2006-10-19 23:50:18 · answer #6 · answered by HJW 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're not moving right away get some boric acid and place it along their routes,this may take a month. Boric acid makes them dry up, they take it back to the nest and they all die. Be sure and take all draweres out of your chest of drawers and such and pour the boric acid liberaly in all the cracks. Wear a dust mask if you need to and wash hands afterwards.
2006-10-19 23:50:26 · answer #7 · answered by tom_nearhood 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sad. i would throw out all i can. then rent a dry storage shed (the little demons are happy in damp environments and can eat paper to stay alive). then poison the hell out of everything in that shed. a few days later take a different poison and do it again. then few days later thoroughly clean, inspect, and possibly poison again with yet a different brand. if one gets in your new house you will most likely have the same problem
wish you good luck
2006-10-19 23:52:41 · answer #8 · answered by blackrealty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring everything out of the house and sun them before packing into the boxes. Once you have packed em, do not return to the house. Happy Packing
2006-10-19 23:43:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is going to be really difficult if not nearly impossible....first bug bomb the whole apartment..cover things that you don't want to stink, also go to your new home and bomb it(just in case some make it) then wash ALL of you clothes and linens at a laundry mat........ and hopefully this works...good luck!!
2006-10-19 23:46:41 · answer #10 · answered by ☠Naz☠ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋