Does my landlord have to handle pest problems?
My roommate and I are both clean and our apartment is well taken care of. We live in Illinois. However, we have noticed some roaches near both of the doors to the outside and near the downstairs bathroom. My roommate finally found one upstairs today and called the landlord. He sent someone over and they then claimed that a bag of potatoes on the floor of our kitchen closet was attracting the roaches and that they would therefore not cover the pest control. They also claimed to have seen roaches around the bag of potatoes. When my roommate went home she said there were no roaches by the potatoes and we have never found any roaches anywhere near the bag of potatoes. This is clearly another one of the many lies that the landlord’s office has told us. What can I do to get them to take care of the pest problem?
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:36 pm
yes he does it is up to him to maintain the building
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February 3rd, 2011 at 3:36 am
Roaches will come for a myriad of reasons. The landlord is responsible for ridding his property of pests.
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February 3rd, 2011 at 8:36 am
Were you or your roommate there when the inspection for the roaches was done? If not, it’s his word against yours.. never let landlords do inspections without at least 1 occupant there. You could try some roach spray, but it probably won’t help much. And if the problem persists, call the local health dept and report the problem to them, including the info about your landlord saying he wouldn’t cover the pest control fee. Roaches don”t just show up because of a bag of potatoes! They have probably been around for awhile, maybe coming from another apt.. anyway..good luck!
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February 3rd, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Put the potatoes, and any other food, in something roach proof, like a canister with a tight fitting lid, or the refrigerator. Roaches can also eat the glue of paper grocery sacks, so don’t leave those out either. Then try calling the landlord again. Be prepared to call several times before they help you.
It may be easier to buy a can of roach spray yourself. But you should still seal up the food if roaches are anywhere in the building.
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February 3rd, 2011 at 7:36 pm
It is his problem, not yours. You can be clean as can be, but have roaches, they simply are a fact of life in various parts of the country, just like ants.
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February 4th, 2011 at 1:36 am
I would keep complaining. If the manager does not help then just call the management company directly and complain there. Roaches are attraced to potatoes. Enough so that when buying from the grocery store you should check the bag. It is hard for a landlord to say that you brought them in or the people next door did. There is really no proof. So they really need to take care of this. I am not saying that they will. You can buy a couple foggers to let off in your apartment over night. this will rid them for your apartment. but with out doing the whole building they will just move to another apartment. And one day you will see them back
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February 4th, 2011 at 6:37 am
Call your town’s offices and see if they have a service which can inspect your pr4emisis and take yours story down. It could be you have some tights under county and state laws.
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