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Rodents in My Apartment
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:49 pm
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:49 pm
I saw a rat in my apartment about 2.5 months ago. We thought it had been taken care of, but yesterday I walked in and there it was. Little bastard crawled under my couch before I could react. I turned around and went downstairs to the office and let them know the issue was still going on. Apparently the old pest control company wasn't doing a very good job. So they got a new one. I've been assured they will do all they can to take care of the issue. I walked back upstairs, grabbed a bucket and a broom, and lifted the couch up. Managed to trap him under the bucket. Maintenance came and helped me get it out of the apartment. Now I'm just worried he might have had friends.
My roommate and I have avoided going to the grocery store for 2.5 months because of this. The original rat got into our pantry and went to town on our food. We asked the apartment complex to clean our kitchen for us, which they did. They also gave us a $50 gift card to a local restaurant, which was nice. It also doesn't feel good to have rats in your apartment when you pay over $1,000 per person to live somewhere (just rent).
I just got an email from the new property manager. She assures me we will be checked on every week by the new company and they will give us weekly updates. If things are not satisfactory, we can "discuss other options". Which i'm guessing means move into a new unit. I know other units have had rodents as well, because we have asked people.
To be honest, all I want is for my apartment to be clear of rodents. But we've been living with this inconvenience for 2.5 months. I know what I have to do from a legal standpoint if I want to get out of my lease, and we haven't started that process because we don't want to move if we can avoid it. But it's reaching the point where we just don't want to deal with this anymore. What should I do? And should I go to the management office and ask for a rent credit of some kind for our inconvenience?
My roommate and I have avoided going to the grocery store for 2.5 months because of this. The original rat got into our pantry and went to town on our food. We asked the apartment complex to clean our kitchen for us, which they did. They also gave us a $50 gift card to a local restaurant, which was nice. It also doesn't feel good to have rats in your apartment when you pay over $1,000 per person to live somewhere (just rent).
I just got an email from the new property manager. She assures me we will be checked on every week by the new company and they will give us weekly updates. If things are not satisfactory, we can "discuss other options". Which i'm guessing means move into a new unit. I know other units have had rodents as well, because we have asked people.
To be honest, all I want is for my apartment to be clear of rodents. But we've been living with this inconvenience for 2.5 months. I know what I have to do from a legal standpoint if I want to get out of my lease, and we haven't started that process because we don't want to move if we can avoid it. But it's reaching the point where we just don't want to deal with this anymore. What should I do? And should I go to the management office and ask for a rent credit of some kind for our inconvenience?
13
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:53 pm to AggieDub14
get a cat
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:54 pm to VFL1800FPD
or a snake
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:55 pm to VFL1800FPD
No cat would be able to eat this rat. It was as big as my fist. And I have some pretty big hands. Would take a jungle cat to eat this thing.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:56 pm to Sneaky__Sally
Yeah, then I'd have to get a mongoose to catch the loose snake.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:57 pm to AggieDub14
quote:
To be honest, all I want is for my apartment to be clear of rodents. But we've been living with this inconvenience for 2.5 months. I know what I have to do from a legal standpoint if I want to get out of my lease, and we haven't started that process because we don't want to move if we can avoid it. But it's reaching the point where we just don't want to deal with this anymore. What should I do? And should I go to the management office and ask for a rent credit of some kind for our inconvenience?
Don't think I would be the best to give you legal advice on a situation like this but would just say make sure you have copies and make note of all your interactions with the property manager.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:58 pm to rockiee
It's all on my email. In order to start any legal process though, I have to send a certified letter addressing my grievances then wait 2 weeks. We should probably do that.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 4:59 pm to AggieDub14
Buy a couple of rat traps. Bait them with peanut butter. If the rats are still there, it will catch them, if they are gone, the trap will be empty and you will have peace of mind.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 5:19 pm to AggieDub14
Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage...
Posted on 5/10/17 at 5:21 pm to AggieDub14
Instead of a restaurant gift card I'd ask for a grocery store gift card.
You can always "threaten" for a rent credit, they're more than likely going to oblige.
Also, I'm sure a cat would love to eat a rat the size of your fist.
They eat big arse birds, too.
You can always "threaten" for a rent credit, they're more than likely going to oblige.
Also, I'm sure a cat would love to eat a rat the size of your fist.
They eat big arse birds, too.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 6:07 pm to AggieDub14
quote:
My roommate and I
Is your roommate a cajun?
If so you would not have a problem with rodents for long. If they are not, you might consider getting a cajun to replace your current one.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 6:07 pm to AggieDub14
quote:
My roommate and I
Is your roommate a cajun?
If so you would not have a problem with rodents for long. If they are not, you might consider getting a cajun to replace your current one.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 6:28 pm to Cheese Grits
My roommate is a filthy buckeye. Funny thing is, my previous roommate (different apartment) was an Indian LSU grad. Would have made for great jokes.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 8:10 pm to AggieDub14
quote:
My roommate is a filthy buckeye.
That is your problem, you live with rats.
Posted on 5/10/17 at 9:34 pm to AggieDub14
The rat you most recently saw isn't the same one you first reported on. Rats are constantly on the move unless they're in a breeding phase. Then they'll set up anywhere there's a safe, moist and very warm spot.
There are only three rodents that are considered urban pests: The house mouse, the roof rat and the Norway rat. The first two happily share quarters inside with us but the Norway rat lives exclusively outside. However, it will venture inside to scavenge for food.
House mice are tiny, roof rats can get as big as your fist and Norway rats can be enormous, sometimes as big as house cats. There aren't many diseases that they carry anymore but they do bring fleas with them and they can spread bad things around through their bites.
The first line of defense against all rats is excluding them from your home. Any opening the size of a quarter or bigger accommodates them. A good tactic is to push wire mesh such as Brillo pads into all openings. Rats won't try to chew metal.
When they get in, you have to trap or kill them. There are several no-kill traps at the big box stores that are quite effective and can be used repeatedly. Kill traps include the classic spring trap, glue traps and poison. Don't use poison if you have pets. The rats will eat the poison and then will become disoriented and will wonder out into the open where your pet might kill and eat them, thereby becoming poisoned, too.
Side note: If you choose to poison the rats, they will frequently crawl into wall spaces to die. The odor of their decay will last about five days. Of course, the more you kill the stronger the odor will be.
If you're not effective at trapping or killing them, an infestation is next. The rats will consider your home to be a safe space. They will breed rapidly and you'll hear their activity in the walls and ceiling of your home. They will also be comfortable enough to come out into the open frequently.
Now it's time for professional help. Nothing else will work. The pros will assess your situation and then launch a program to eliminate the infestation. They might even recommend tenting your home and poisoning all the rats at one time. They are always successful.
There are only three rodents that are considered urban pests: The house mouse, the roof rat and the Norway rat. The first two happily share quarters inside with us but the Norway rat lives exclusively outside. However, it will venture inside to scavenge for food.
House mice are tiny, roof rats can get as big as your fist and Norway rats can be enormous, sometimes as big as house cats. There aren't many diseases that they carry anymore but they do bring fleas with them and they can spread bad things around through their bites.
The first line of defense against all rats is excluding them from your home. Any opening the size of a quarter or bigger accommodates them. A good tactic is to push wire mesh such as Brillo pads into all openings. Rats won't try to chew metal.
When they get in, you have to trap or kill them. There are several no-kill traps at the big box stores that are quite effective and can be used repeatedly. Kill traps include the classic spring trap, glue traps and poison. Don't use poison if you have pets. The rats will eat the poison and then will become disoriented and will wonder out into the open where your pet might kill and eat them, thereby becoming poisoned, too.
Side note: If you choose to poison the rats, they will frequently crawl into wall spaces to die. The odor of their decay will last about five days. Of course, the more you kill the stronger the odor will be.
If you're not effective at trapping or killing them, an infestation is next. The rats will consider your home to be a safe space. They will breed rapidly and you'll hear their activity in the walls and ceiling of your home. They will also be comfortable enough to come out into the open frequently.
Now it's time for professional help. Nothing else will work. The pros will assess your situation and then launch a program to eliminate the infestation. They might even recommend tenting your home and poisoning all the rats at one time. They are always successful.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 12:02 am to Kentucker
Posted on 5/11/17 at 8:03 am to AggieDub14
quote:
No cat would be able to eat this rat. It was as big as my fist. And I have some pretty big hands. Would take a jungle cat to eat this thing.
You'd be surprised how big a rat a housecat will kill. It's no contest. That is if the cat is inclined to do the job. Cats are basically natures greatest engineered killers and generally will kill just for the lulz.
Other option is to move. Even if your apartment is clean, you have no way to know what the other tenants are doing.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 11:30 am to GnashRebel
quote:
Even if your apartment is clean, you have no way to know what the other tenants are doing.
This
Especially true when it comes to roaches.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 4:21 pm to AggieDub14
Cant believe nobody has said...
First you make a roux
good luck, rodents are nasty.
First you make a roux
good luck, rodents are nasty.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 5:07 pm to AggieDub14
You are overreacting. It was a single rodent. It happens to the best of us.
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