As a rental tenant in California, you have the right to a habitable living space. If your apartment or room has substandard conditions, such as infestations of rats, mice, or other vermin, the landlord must address the issue and restore the property to livable standards. If your landlord refuses to address the issue, talk to a Huntington Beach rodent infestation lawyer. The dedicated tenets’ rights attorneys at Elder & Spencer have over 120 years of combined experience representing tenants and their housing rights and could help guide you through your legal options.
In residential renting, tenants must understand their rights and obligations. The primary obligation is to pay rent on time. Tenants are also responsible for maintaining their rental units, keeping them clean, and performing minor repairs, particularly for damage caused by their guests or pets.
Landlords also have rights and responsibilities, including the duty to provide a habitable rental unit. Legally, this means the unit must be suitable for human occupancy and comply with building and health codes. By law, landlords must repair issues that render the unit uninhabitable, such as:
For example, if rats or mice are present in the building, the landlord must take measures to eliminate them, such as hiring an exterminator or setting traps. They must also take steps to prevent future infestations.
The lease agreement outlines the rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants. In most cases, it helps them maintain smooth relationships and resolve issues without needing legal intervention. However, if a landlord fails to address a rodent infestation, tenants may need to seek legal assistance in Huntington Beach.
Rats and mice carry diseases and contaminate food, posing serious health risks for tenants. Their presence affects a rental unit’s habitability, and landlords must take action to eliminate infestations. Tenants should promptly notify the landlord after spotting a rodent so the landlord can take immediate steps to resolve the issue..
However, if the landlord refuses to address the problem or ignores the complaints, tenants can act to protect their rights and help out their own cause. Photographing signs of rats or mice and documenting any communications with the landlord, including emails, letters, and phone calls, could be important evidence to show the landlord’s knowledge of the problem and their refusal to fix it. Reporting the mouse problem to the local health authority could also help spur the landlord into action.
If the landlord continues to ignore the swarm of vermin, tenants in Huntington Beach should speak to an attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer could help guide tenants through their legal options, which could include filing a lawsuit for damages.
If you are a tenant and have noticed signs of rats or mice, it is vital to act quickly to protect your right to live in a habitable rental unit. This starts with reporting the issue, photographing the signs of the invasion, and documenting any communications with your landlord.
If the problem continues or the landlord refuses to take action, talk to a Huntington Beach rodent infestation lawyer. Elder & Spencer specializes in protecting tenants and could help you understand your rights and legal options against your landlord. Contact us today to talk about your situation and your legal options.
(714) 587-5150