Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 34

Thread: Rats in apartment

  1. #1
    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2005
    Posts
    1,944
    Thanks
    164
    Thanked 498 Times in 218 Posts

    Default Rats in apartment

    So we moved into this apartment 6 months ago. We were moving across the country, and so we were just looking for a safe place until we got to know the area. This place was over our budget, but in a super nice area, so we went for the "luxury" apartment.

    Six months later, we have huge rats in our place. Like, the exterminator guy was scared huge.

    We are freakishly clean people. I wipe everything down every day with bleach, we vacuum fanatically...but we found out our neighbors have had them for months, they just never bothered to tell the complex

    The complex doesn't seem too concerned. I am so grossed out I can't even tell you. These rats are brazen too, they come right out when we have all the lights on and are watching tv. We set up traps...and the traps have gone missing

    I really don't know what to do. This is a complete infestation, and the apartment complex sucks. They're "working on it", but they said they won't get to it for days. Is there anything I can do? I can't live here. I huddle in my little room with all the lights on, and I'm too afraid to go in the kitchen to eat anything. (this a is a great new diet idea)

  2. #2
    Banned
    Joined
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Colorado!
    Posts
    6,053
    Thanks
    3,775
    Thanked 3,701 Times in 1,713 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Is it the rats from the Secret of NIMH?

    In all seriousness, fuck that! Go to the housing board. This is a health violation. You have documentation from the exterminator, right? Take pictures of the rats. Then go to a hotel until the problem is resolved and BILL THE COMPLEX FOR YOUR HOTEL FEE. This can be done because we were going to do this when our heat was broken and have done this before when we had to install upgrades into our apartment. BE VERY FIRM AND DO NOT BACK DOWN. Tell them they can either deduct it from your rent, or credit it towards your deposit. If they refuse, GO TO THE HEALTH BOARD AND THE HOUSING BUREAU. This is hazardous because they carry disease and COULD BITE YOU.

    If you want I can put some links in here for you. You should look up tenant's rights.

  3. #3
    God/dess LAChloe's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2007
    Location
    los angeles
    Posts
    2,107
    Thanks
    5,428
    Thanked 2,927 Times in 999 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    OMG!!!!! I don't know what to tell you, but I am so sorry. I can't even imagine! Wow.

  4. #4
    God/dess whirlerz's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2004
    Location
    Midwest
    Posts
    27,134
    Thanks
    55,898
    Thanked 26,028 Times in 13,271 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    My Mood
    Aggressive

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Agreed, that's HORRIBLE! Cripes, I cringe over the tiny field mice I sometimes get. They should be sued, HARD! Good luck.

  5. #5
    Featured Member Brandi_Lynn's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Your grandma's underwear drawer
    Posts
    1,087
    Thanks
    1,088
    Thanked 874 Times in 419 Posts
    My Mood
    Twisted

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    You should be able to legally break your contract/lease w/ the complex without them keeping the deposit or screwing you over in any sort of way -because I think would fall under a violation of any sort of city health code or violation. Especially, if the neighbors have had them for months -that tells me that it prob won't really be truly fixed anytime soon. Even if they do "fix" it -it will prob be in a half assed way I'm guessing (since this seems to be the way that landlords & boards do things to save money & what not).

    If the board/landlord does give you problems trying to break your lease or won't do it & doesn't really fix it, your city probably has a tenancy bureau or program hopefully to help you. For example, in Chicago we have this http://www.tenant.org/. I'm not sure where your location is -but your city or state should have some sort of equivalent.

    Perhaps try this link or one similar to it?? http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/renters-rights

    Good Luck!
    "You're better than no one and no one is better than you."
    -- Bob Dylan

    “There's never going to be a great misunderstanding of me. I think I'm a little whacked.”


  6. #6
    Veteran Member caitlin1214's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    536
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked 225 Times in 127 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    I could tell you what to do if there were mice in the apartment because I've had that happen, but thank God I've never had to deal with rats.


    Would you feel comfortable using rat poison?

    Just out of curiosity, I searched for rat poison and I found this on Canadian Tire's website :

    http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

  7. #7
    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2005
    Posts
    1,944
    Thanks
    164
    Thanked 498 Times in 218 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    We've dumped poison down, no improvement. I emailed them tonight saying I just can't live here, since I literally can't eat or sleep, I'm so freaked out.

    I asked if they'd move me to another building-in this complex, the apartments are in groups of 6 in different buildings. We're in the furthest building close to a lake, hence the problems (we're in Orlando).

    If they won't do that, I asked them to reimburse me for a hotel or let me out of the lease.

    I have a friend who is a lawyer who is willing to help us. If this isn't fixed this week, then I'll contact the department of health and I'll have my lawyer friend move to get us the hell out of here.

  8. #8
    Veteran Member caitlin1214's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    536
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked 225 Times in 127 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    If it's that bad, you should get out of there and they should either fix it or let you out of the lease.

  9. #9
    Featured Member Brandi_Lynn's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Your grandma's underwear drawer
    Posts
    1,087
    Thanks
    1,088
    Thanked 874 Times in 419 Posts
    My Mood
    Twisted

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Quote Originally Posted by kandie_kitten View Post
    We've dumped poison down, no improvement. I emailed them tonight saying I just can't live here, since I literally can't eat or sleep, I'm so freaked out.

    I asked if they'd move me to another building-in this complex, the apartments are in groups of 6 in different buildings. We're in the furthest building close to a lake, hence the problems (we're in Orlando).

    If they won't do that, I asked them to reimburse me for a hotel or let me out of the lease.

    I have a friend who is a lawyer who is willing to help us. If this isn't fixed this week, then I'll contact the department of health and I'll have my lawyer friend move to get us the hell out of here.
    Good deal! At least you have some good resources on hand -hopefully, ur mess gets dealt w/ swiftly
    "You're better than no one and no one is better than you."
    -- Bob Dylan

    “There's never going to be a great misunderstanding of me. I think I'm a little whacked.”


  10. #10
    God/dess rickdugan's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    4,570
    Thanks
    4,406
    Thanked 7,481 Times in 2,715 Posts
    My Mood
    Amused

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Sounds like those little fellas (or not so little as the case may be) could use a nice big helping of D-Con. Now some may have an objection to poisoning rodents, but I can tell you that the stuff works wonders.

    But putting that aside, your problem is probably bigger than what you can easily fix if the entire complex is infested, though it would still probably help you to D-Con them. However, in the end it doesn't matter how clean you are, if your neighbors are not as clean as you then the lowest common denominator makes it bad for everyone. Years ago I had this problem in a complex that I lived in, except it was roaches instead of rats. I cannot abide a dirty place, but I had some neighbors who were downright pigs. These damned roaches would take over my bathroom at night and made my whole place stink and there was nothing I could do to stop them.

    When this sort of thing happened to me, I cut a deal with the management to let me out of my lease. I told the management that either they let me go quietly or my next stop would be the city housing department to file a complaint. I'm not sure if the same strategy would work for you, but it is worth a shot as management of your complex may prefer to see you leave than to have you cause headaches for them. In my case, I was able to use part of my security deposit for my last month while I was looking for another place.

    In any event, good luck!

  11. #11
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    7,964
    Thanks
    6,155
    Thanked 10,183 Times in 4,602 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    While you're working on the resolving the problem, maybe you can get a cat.

  12. #12
    Veteran Member innes's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    679
    Thanks
    452
    Thanked 353 Times in 201 Posts
    My Mood
    Psychedelic

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    There are rat traps. I had mice. Mice are much smaller than rats but ehhh I was pretty scared. I can only imagine how much scarier rats would be!
    Rat traps and cats are a good option.
    Legal action - there must be a landlord and tenant board that you can go to. Or something!!
    InnesX

  13. #13
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    6,948
    Thanks
    2,845
    Thanked 5,526 Times in 3,113 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Rats in apartment


  14. #14
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    2,066
    Thanks
    440
    Thanked 1,844 Times in 779 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    i was also going to suggest a firearm but that is my default response to everything and is perhaps going overboard. i would not wait out the week. i would check into a hotel today and itemize everything so that you are reimbursed. so sorry to hear this.

  15. #15
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    6,948
    Thanks
    2,845
    Thanked 5,526 Times in 3,113 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Quote Originally Posted by camille27 View Post
    i was also going to suggest a firearm but that is my default response to everything and is perhaps going overboard. i would not wait out the week. i would check into a hotel today and itemize everything so that you are reimbursed. so sorry to hear this.
    That might be even more fun, a .410 bore or 20 gauge, maybe, but the airgun would be quieter, and there are those pesky ‘neighbors’ to consider.

  16. #16
    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2005
    Posts
    1,944
    Thanks
    164
    Thanked 498 Times in 218 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Yeah, my boyfriend has been contemplating his firearms, but the apartment is so poorly constructed, we'd probably end up killing the filthy downstairs neighbors

  17. #17
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    6,948
    Thanks
    2,845
    Thanked 5,526 Times in 3,113 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Rats in apartment


  18. #18
    Featured Member Natalllia's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2011
    Location
    New Orleans
    Posts
    943
    Thanks
    1,138
    Thanked 1,157 Times in 493 Posts
    My Mood
    Stressed

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Quote Originally Posted by rickdugan View Post
    Sounds like those little fellas (or not so little as the case may be) could use a nice big helping of D-Con. Now some may have an objection to poisoning rodents, but I can tell you that the stuff works wonders.
    When you poison rodents, don't you run the risk of having them die inside your walls? Living with rats is bad, but living with the smell of dead rats in the walls is as bad or worse, IMO.
    "I didn't discover curves; I only uncovered them"
    - Mae West

  19. #19
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    464
    Thanks
    229
    Thanked 285 Times in 159 Posts
    My Mood
    Amused

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    ^^^ This....you don't want to poison them as they will go someplace and die and the smell will be awful as they rot away.

  20. #20
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    6,948
    Thanks
    2,845
    Thanked 5,526 Times in 3,113 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    I never had that happen with the tomcat bait . It did, a place where i worked 30 years ago, but it went away after a while. The stuff may have changed.
    Last edited by slowpoke; 02-15-2012 at 02:45 PM.

  21. #21
    God/dess firemaiden04's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2008
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    2,652
    Thanks
    3,054
    Thanked 2,005 Times in 903 Posts

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Get a cat. A female--they tend to be meaner. Not a kitten, a full-grown one.

  22. #22
    God/dess papillonluvr's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2006
    Location
    japan
    Posts
    3,724
    Thanks
    315
    Thanked 1,186 Times in 703 Posts
    My Mood
    Goofy

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    The rotting smell is baaad. I had mice a while ago, and they died in my crawl spaceand in my heating vents. That was a huge bill to have all that cleaned.

    Do what mediocrity says. She's normally right.
    "You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories -Stainslaw J. Lec

    Confuscius say: "Man who pull bra stap get bust in face"


  23. #23
    God/dess 4everresolutions's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Great White North
    Posts
    3,605
    Thanks
    2,475
    Thanked 2,620 Times in 1,383 Posts
    My Mood
    Chatty

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Orlando, hm? Now I'm just dying to know which apartment complex, becasue I'm willing to bet on a couple.... (I lived near UCF for 3 years).

    Anyway, you can legally break your lease with the complex if they can't keep it free of vermin. Time to find some place new to live...



  24. #24
    God/dess sammii's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2011
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    2,071
    Thanks
    5,793
    Thanked 4,328 Times in 1,404 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Rats in apartment

    Holy shit. I remember one time my boyfriend and I found a beetle in our apartment, and we slept in our car the next night, and in hotels for the next week. We had an ant problem too. If I saw one mouse in my place, I would be out so fast. My boyfriend said the same thing when I told him about this thread.

    All I can say is get out, ASAP. You shouldn't be living in fear in your own apartment.

  25. #25
    Featured Member OJenni!'s Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,777
    Thanks
    181
    Thanked 2,228 Times in 691 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default

    Call the city and call the local tenant board immediately. This is a serious health risk and the entire building should be shut down. Take pictures and video. Tell everyone you know and don't know. Post fliers around the complex, other people will back you up. I would also start getting a petition going. This place isn't doing anything, so you need to gather evidence and make noise! If enough people are experiencing the same problem the city health department will force them to do something



Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Are Rats Leaving the Sinking Ship? Maybe Not
    By threlayer in forum Dollar Den
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-15-2011, 07:56 AM
  2. I Hate Rats!
    By PookaShell in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 11-30-2007, 04:04 PM
  3. I have rats!!
    By AlexxaHex in forum Picture Post
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 09-20-2007, 09:15 AM
  4. For the gym rats - sore elboes
    By Deogol in forum Body Business
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-11-2005, 09:46 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •