I was on my laptop a few minutes ago and suddenly a HUGE roach comes out from under my bed. I live in an apartment, and I've been here for 2 years, and I've been keeping REALLY clean. The roaches were already here, before I moved here. The freakin landlord won't do anything about it. But don't you think if I move out the roaches are going to move with me? Do you recommend I move out? What do I do to get rid of them until I move out?
2007-08-27 19:38:18 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
I can't go to sleep knowing there's a roach in my room.
2007-08-27 19:41:55 · update #1
Please people! Should I move out? Is there ANY other way besides calling an exterminator??
2007-08-27 20:12:59 · update #2
You can look here:
http://realestate.findlaw.com/tenant/tenant-repairs/tenant-repairs-standard.html
It's not specifically about whether or not a landlord is responsible for extermination costs, but states that the landlord is responsible for "sanitary" conditions. It's about Warranty of Habitability".
This is from the NYC Housing Code:
"Sec. 27-2017 Definitions
When used in this article:
1. Eradication means the elimination of rodents or insects and other pests from any premises through the use of traps, poisons, fumigation or any other method of extermination.
2. Insects and other pests include the members of class insecta, including houseflies, lice, bees, cockroaches, moths, silverfish, beetles, bedbugs, ants, termites, hornets, mosquitoes and wasps, and such members of the phylum arthropoda as spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes and wood lice.
3. Harborage means any condition which provides shelter or protection for rodents or insects and other pests.
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Sec. 27-2018 Rodent and insect eradication; mandatory extermination
1. The owner or occupant in control of a dwelling shall keep the premises free from rodents, and from infestations of insects and other pests, and from any condition conducive to rodent or insect and other pest life.
2. When any premises are subject to infestation by rodents or insects and other pests, the owner or occupant in control shall apply continuous eradication measures.
3. When the department makes the determination that any premises are infested by rodents, insects or other pests, it may order such eradication measures as the department deems necessary."
You should check with a local tennants rights organization to find out exactly what your local codes require of your landlord.
2007-08-27 20:14:21 · answer #1 · answered by Whoda thunkit? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you move you have to be super careful about bringing along "uninvited guests" to you new space.. So, I would try and document that your place is clean and not inviting any pests and that you have the right as a paying tennent to have him fumigate your apt. If he won't comply send a letter and call the health dept.. That will get his head spinning and document and take picture's of any droppings, or live roaches you see in your apt.. If you still aren't satisfied and you are worried about roaches.. Go and get some bug bombs and use them in the apt... It would at the very least kill whatever is loose in your room. Just follow the instructions.. You can also get "roach motels" to get the roach.... Just save your receipts and submit them with the rent... It could be the roach(es) are coming from someone else's apt.... Good luck
2007-08-28 10:31:09 · answer #2 · answered by pebblespro 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my goodness, I feel for you. Yes, I think you should move, but you're going to have to do it very carefully. If your problem is that you just spot the occasional one on the floor it will be easier, but if they are everywhere (in the kitchen cabinets, in your hamper, etc.) you've really got a job ahead of you.
If it's a serious infestation, you need to cut your loses, take everything (and I mean everything) to the dump, and start over in your new place. The only things you should keep are things that you can clean thorougly and know that there are no bugs in them. That means you have to know for sure that all your electronics are clean on the inside. Roaches love nice warm TVs, computers and kitchen appliances. Wipe everything down after you take it out of your old apartment.
If it's not that bad and they aren't in your hamper and silverware drawer, you should still take caution when you move because you definitely don't want to take them with you, but you don't need to dump everything. Just make sure everything is bug-free after you pull it out of the building.
In either case, DO NOT bring the packing boxes or packing materials into the old apartment. That's a surefire way to bring along hitchhikers. Keep them outside, bring an item out, wipe it and inspect it, then pack it.
2007-08-28 11:53:37 · answer #3 · answered by katefields1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep, I'd move. The thing is, no matter how clean you are, if you're in an apartment building or sharing a building with other families, you will have the same pests they do. An exterminator would be a temporary fix. They'd probably come back. Good Luck.
2007-08-28 03:56:07 · answer #4 · answered by LawComm 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should definitely call exterminator, and it seems to me that the landlord would have to pay for it, but even if not I would definitely rather pay for exterminator then to live with roaches.
2007-08-28 02:48:10 · answer #5 · answered by ღѕιηƒσηιαღ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get some boric acid powder and put it in every crack and cranny. You can find this at a store like Wal-Mart. Good Luck! =)
2007-08-28 08:39:37 · answer #6 · answered by Backwoods Barbie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call pest control, if you really want to solve the problem that is.
2007-08-28 02:45:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋