I have a pest problem in my house and I signed a one year lease.?

Question

Is that a breach of the lease. If he has been notified and is not doing anything about it? And i'm not talking roaches or crickets...i'm talking about MICE!!! sick!

Answer 1

First of all, keep EVERYTHING in writing. If you talk to you landlord, follow up with an email, fax. or letter confirming what you talked about. You need to be able to prove what you said. As for if pests are your landlord's responsibility, the long and the short is yes and no. Pest control is the responsibility of you and your landlord. Same idea as if you get a few ants or a roach here and there. If it is one occasional mouse, you just need to take care of it yourself. You also need to make sure that you have a clean living environment. I would not suggest poision, the best bet is one of those cage traps. They work well, no mess to clean up, and no threat of them crawling into the walls to die (whole new set of problems with that one). Just make sure to set them free far away as they might just come back in.

If you are dealing with an infestation, you have a clean house, and/or you can show where the mice are coming in then it is most definately the landlord's responsibility. Notify the landlord in writing of your expectations. Take a few pictures of the place showing that there is nothing from your doing (trash, dirt, etc) to bring them in. If you can find a rathole or other entrance for them (like they seem to always come from one area) this will help prove his problem. Notify him that he has ____ days (give him probably 3) to have someone address this issue or you will do it yourself and deduct the costs from your rent. You have every right to do this, and it will then be his responsibility to get the money from you. This is why you are keeping the documentation, so if he does consider court, you will have all your ducks in a row to change his mind. He does not want to take you to court when he knows he will lose. Good luck.

Answer 2

Kick her out. LOL You could try contacting the local health dept. to see if he is responsible. When we rented out apartments, we found that usually it was the tenants living conditions that caused the problems. Trash and garbage not taken out. Food laying around to draw pests. It is getting colder and the mice will start moving in doors. Get some bait blocks and traps. There is no way to keep some form getting in, but you can control the issue. It doesn't necessarily mean you are dirty or at fault, nor is the landlord. It is nature.

Answer 3

Generally, not providing proper maintenance is considered a breach of your lease contract. I suggest you call the health dept. or housing authority (or at least threaten to). You could always schedule someone to take care of the problem, and have them call your landlord to confirm before they come out. That way, at least you get someone scheduled, though you CANNOT just call them out yourself without letting the landlord know and expect to get reimbursed. Be sure they get confirmation from the landlord themselves.

Answer 4

You usually have 3 days to cancel the lease. If you feel that you haven't been getting the service to exterminate those mice...you can call up the company and complain....if they don't get their act together, than go see a lawyer.

Answer 5

i would start packing again.