On September 1st, I rented my basement to a older lady and her son. My husband and I have a 2 flat we live in the 1st fl, and rent the 2nd fl as well. We recently discovered that the basement tenants have infested the TINY basement with roaches. They are traveling up to my apartment and I DONT LIKE THAT!!! I have talked to them nicely twice already about being more clean and doind something about them and I see nothing being done! I paid them a surprise visit last night just to see the progress and I saw roaches climbing up and down the kitchen walls. I dont understand how they could be so messy with a 2 person apartment! The thing that most distracts me is that there is cieling tiles in the basement and all the roaches are up there! What can I do with the tenants? I have told them twice to help with getting rid of the roaches but they are NOT helping!!! What can I do? They have a 1 year lease that states they should keep thier apt clean. We live in Chicago, IL
2007-11-29 04:03:41 · 6 answers · asked by Mommy to Joel 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
It is your responsibility as landlord. they actualy should complain to you and not the other way around. You should ask access to their place and use an exterminator.
2007-11-29 04:16:30 · answer #1 · answered by crapaudblanc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not saying your tenants are not messy- you've seen that with your own eyes, but....roaches are also attracted to water- that's why they often congregate in kitchens and bathrooms. Is it possible there is a plumbing problem somewhere in the apartment? I live in a rental and my landlord does have a service spray every other month...... so perhaps you could investigate that as an option.
2007-11-29 04:14:20 · answer #2 · answered by GEEGEE 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check your local landlord-tenant code before taking any more steps. Also, you may need to give minimum 24 hours written notice before entering the unit to inspect it, even if you live in the same structure.
If your lease clearly states that the unit must be clean or that tenants are responsible for maintenance, issue a written warning that they are in violation of their lease. Quote the part of the lease they are violating. Give them a set time to rectify the problem, 10 days is typical and that on such-and-such date at such-and-such time you will enter the unit to inspect.
If the problem persists, notify the tenants in writing that, because they in violation of whatever part of the lease, you will charge them the cost for exterminators for this time and each time thereafter that you need exterminator services because of the roaches.
If the roaches are still around, if the tenants have not made good-faith efforts to curb them and if you have clear violation of the lease, give them written notice that you are evicting them. Give them a set date and time for the vacate inspection. You may need to contact a real estate attorney to see if a court ruling is needed, I believe it's called a writ of possession. It may need to be given to the tenants by a sheriff or other court appointed individual.
Just make sure you check your local landlord-tenant codes because what may be legal in one state isn't in another.
2007-11-29 04:42:16 · answer #3 · answered by Willow Natalia 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I WOULD BE P!SSED ALSO. I AM A LANDLORD IN MAINE AND THOUGH WE DONT REALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH ROACHES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH UNSANITARY LIVING CONDITIONS OF SOME OF OUR TENANTS. I WOULD START BY GIVING HER A WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE CONDITIONS AND THAT SHE IS BREAKING THE LEASE. ON THAT CONDITION YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO EVICT THEM IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY, WHICH I WOULD ALSO HAVE IN THE WRITTEN NOTICE. HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FUMIGATED. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH FLEAS INFESTING ALL 5 OF MY UNITS AND I GAVE WRITTEN NOTICE TO ALL MY TENANTS THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO SOME FLEA CONTROL AND THAT I WOULD BE BOMBING THE ENTIRE APT BUILDING ON SUCH AND SUCH A DAY AND ALL THE DIRECTIONS ON WHEN THEY COULD RETURN! GOOD LUCK... ITS NOT A FUN JOB!
2007-11-29 04:18:58 · answer #4 · answered by Jen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your tennants and explain that you are going to have the place sprayed for roaches and that they will be expected to pay half of the cost, and that if the roaches return they will be expected to pay the full amt for any further spraying.
2007-11-29 04:13:51 · answer #5 · answered by tweedbfly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOUR THE LANDLORD I BELIEVE YOU ARE RESPONIBLE FOR HAVING AN EXTERMINATOR CALL
2007-11-29 04:08:54 · answer #6 · answered by karen w 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋