Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Resources for tenants with a bad landlord-- health and sanitation issue?
What are some good resouces for tenants with bad landlords?
The house being rented has a HUGE mouse infestation-- you can hear them in the walls, see evidence of them on the kitchen counter & behind the fridge & washer & dryer. The mice can be so loud that they wake us up on the middle of the night getting into things, & every single dish has to be re-washed before we're able to use it. The mice aren't scared of people or dogs, & run across the floor right in front of us!! We had snap traps, electric traps, & even a high-pitched device designed to repel mice away. We've patched openings where they are entering & they've chewed right through them again.
Help! This is SO unsanitary, especially with 2 children in the house. But the landlord will not do a thing about it, except say "Oh, summer will be here soon and they'll go back outside."
Isn't there somewhere to report him if he doesn't fix the problem? Are there laws I can reference, or codes to tell him he is violating? Thanks!
5 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Every state has a Department of Community Affairs. You should be able to find the Landlords and Tenants Rights Hotline. Tenants have rights that the Landlord must address. A percentage of your rent is to be use for the upkeep of that apt or unit. Contact your Board of Health, the Code Enforcer, and or your City Counsel member and let them know about your mice infestation. That indeed is a health hazard not only for your children but for yourself. Mice carry a number of diseases. Take care of this matter quickly.
Source(s): Landlords and Tenants Hotline - 1 decade ago
Codes, no, I don't think there's a statutory provision against mice or unsanitary surroundings - but if you litigated, you probably would succeed... There's an English case something like this where the landlord failed to provide lighting and maintain the common area and was liable for negligence. The case name escapes me right now.
You'll have a stronger case if someone actually suffered physical harm because of the infestation, though, like falling ill or bites or something. I doubt the inconvenience would qualify under private nuisance, though you could give it a shot.
But first try calling up the local health authority. They might be able to do something about it, and then you wouldn't have to waste money litigating. :)
- Precious GemLv 71 decade ago
Call your local Health Department and complain to them. Call your D.A's office and ask about
city and state ordinances. Then call your local newspaper and T.V. station and ask them to send out their investigative reporters to do a story.
If all that fails circulate a petition, to have the other
tenants sign, stating you want the mice removed.
Forward a copy of the petition to the mayor's office
as well as the D.A.'s office. Good luck!
- 5 years ago
I think in your situation I would start with a call the the local health department. If it's not the right place, they can probably refer you to the appropriate agency. However keep in mind, if they come and inspect the property and find it to be uninhabitable, you may be "out on the street."
- How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
