We have mice in our apartment. How can we break a lease with no charges?
March 6th, 2009
Ani78unwe asked:
We have been having mice in our apartment and the laundry room for 1.5 years. The management has given us traps and has exterminated the building, but it hasn’t helped. We have also purchased traps and devices on our own. We keep the apartment very clean by taking the trash daily, washing the dishes and not leaving food outside. After we came back from our vacation this year, we said “no more”! The house was full of mice droppings and the smell was really bad. We complained to the office again and they said that they already exterminated the building and it would take time until the chemicals start working. Well, one week ago, a mice has made a hole in a cloth and eaten from our cake which was on the stove. The cake was was too hot to be put in the fridge, so left it outside. We started looking for a house and plan to buy one by the end of the year. We want to avoid loosing our deposit and paying for the lease in full. Please help ASAP.
We have been having mice in our apartment and the laundry room for 1.5 years. The management has given us traps and has exterminated the building, but it hasn’t helped. We have also purchased traps and devices on our own. We keep the apartment very clean by taking the trash daily, washing the dishes and not leaving food outside. After we came back from our vacation this year, we said “no more”! The house was full of mice droppings and the smell was really bad. We complained to the office again and they said that they already exterminated the building and it would take time until the chemicals start working. Well, one week ago, a mice has made a hole in a cloth and eaten from our cake which was on the stove. The cake was was too hot to be put in the fridge, so left it outside. We started looking for a house and plan to buy one by the end of the year. We want to avoid loosing our deposit and paying for the lease in full. Please help ASAP.
tough spot your’ in. try to cut a deal with the owners. it sounds like they are doing everything they legally have to do. getting them mad will not help solve the problem… good luck.
Did you read the fine print of the lease contract??? What does it say about potential health issues? It may also depend on where you live (local government rules/regulations) to know if you can get out of a lease because of this issue. Could be a health issue…. Good Luck.
I’d look at the lease agreement or laws the complex must follow.
Chances are they already broke the agreement by not taking care of the rodent infestation.
What state are you in? Call the Apartment Association in your state (i.e., the Texas Apartment Association). They will open a case for you and mediate it, and should help you get out of your lease without a relet charge.
First, you should NOT have to put up with this serious health issue! It’s the landlord’s fault, not yours.
Depending upon where you live, you should a) document the droppings (pictures are GREAT in court!), b) keep a list of dates when you’ve seen them, or the mice, c) dates when the management did anything and what the result was, d) visit your doctor and get evaluated for any mouse-born illnesses, even allergies! e) Notify the Health Board and have an inspection done. f) landlord that you are leaving, due to RODENT INFESTATION and inform them you have already had a health inspector there. g) withhold rent until you leave (put it in an escrow account).
Then find another place! If the landlord is idiotic enough to sue, with all the evidence you have, he’ll most likely lose…AND in some states, you can sue for at least 3 times the rent PLUS damages (and your security deposit must be refunded in 30 days or it’s forfeited by the landlord).
Check on the laws in your area…they vary widely. I’ve used the above method, twice (once for rodents and deteriorating conditions,like loose ceilings, and another time for sever roof leakage)…and have WON in court, both times. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! And put all communications to anyone, esp. the landlord, in writing.
Good luck!
You had been using the accomodation for one & half years. Now you want to get rid of it by one way or the other. I doubt, if the law of the land can help you.
This is a health issue, as other answerers have stated. i ould check with the health dept, depending on your local laws, YOU might be entitled to monetary damages
duh you left a cake out and a mouse ate it. you are a mental moron
Tell the management that they must bring in professional help to get rid of the mice. There are many different options the management can do to get rid of the mice. Do it in writing, and ask them to fix the problem or that would be a good reason to break the lease. Tell them that you have spoken to an attorney and they advice you to either they hire someone to get rid of the mice, or you can hire someone and send them the bill, if they refuse both, then you have ever right to move. They will not be able to keep the deposit, because you have given them ever chance to solve the matters, and they have not, you have your right to get your money back. Leaving the cake outside wouldn’t be a defense for them, because the mice shouldn’t be around to come in to get the cake anyway.
Remember, make sure it is in writing, and save any replies, just in case you have to bring them to court.
Also, keep a log of when and who you wrote to, including any verbal conversation you may have with them. That will also help in your attempt to show that you have tried to get the problem solved before you decided to get out of the place.
Take pictures.
Good Luck