can I be evicted for calling board of health? - Landlord Forum thread 317392

can I be evicted for calling board of health? by Anonymous on April 12, 2014 @18:44

I recently moved in (3 and a half weeks ago) into federally funded housing for elderly and the disabled. My rent is 30% of my income and I am disabled. When I first moved in I heard weird noises in the walls. Thinking nothing much of it I blew it off as the pipes and heating system.

A few days went by and I became more suspicious that it might be rodent activity. Then to my disbelief I heard a scurrying noise of a rodent. I notified management. I finally caught up with the social services coordinator and told her. She brought up a member of maintanencebmaintenance and they said its probably the pipes.

She asked me if I wanted an exterminator or if I wanted to think about it. I said ill think about it. The next day I called and emailed and didn't hear back. There is a piece of history that ill add in later.

So it was 9 days never heard back. I will add the history now. I used to live on the first floor and could hear running noises under the floors. I called to let them know and the exterminator said there was nothing. So to them I am the boy who cried wolf which sucks.

But this problem is real. I hear the noises of animals that bite on the wood, chew things, and scury of a rodent noises. I've found nasty per dribble stains on the stove, two rodent rub marks on the wall, hear things biting and rustling in the electrical heating things, was in my tv room and heard a noise in the bedroom, wentt in there and my clothes basket was tipped over on the ground rocking back and forth, my belt which was hung up on the bar which leads to a metal shelf was swaying back and forth. I sometimes fond prices of torn toilet paper scattered throughout the apartment, hear something near the fridge and oven.

I woke up the other day and heard something running up on the stove as if it were diving for its life. Whatever it was I just missed seeing it by a few seconds. I placed down mice traps and caught nothing which scares me into thinking its rat activity. I hear the lady in the next unit hitting her heater vent with a broom. I am scared I have rats.

After not hearing from the housing authority I emailed the board of health. They said that my complaint was processed and they'll call me Monday. I didn't realize an inquiry would create a complaint.

I am not a slob. I clean up my mess wash my dishes right away. I don't leave food out. I got rid of all my food hoping they just go away but they don't. I met the executive director ....before I called the b.o.h and he wasn't very pleasant with me. Seems like a real jerk.

By me calling the board of health (they said they will come out and inspect) will I get evicted? Will they retaliate against me? Will I be blacklisted? I dont want any trouble but I just dont want to live with rats. I am scared in my apartment. Did I do the right thing? Is it true they can't evict me if I call the b.o.h?

I know I didn't cause this. Just an fyi....the people that moved from this unit on the fifth floor moved into a different unit on the third floor. I previously called the board of health to see if anyone else from this building called in with the similar complaintvandvthey said that there was a case open from someone else and it was very recent. Could they have the same issue? Bbc
I live in Massachusetts. Thanks for your helo. Sorry for any spelling or grammar errors, tried to fix but screen kept going down. One more thing. I was eating a chocalter Easter candy. Could the rats have been close by and smelt it? Thank u

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Re: can I be evicted for calling board of health? by Garry (Iowa) on April 12, 2014 @21:40	[ Reply ]

LEGALLY, its against all kinds of laws for landlords to retaliate against you for calling health departments about the conditions you describe, especially if critters are found. However, if you are making a lot of calls, say 2-3 a month over a years time, and no critters are ever found, management could decide to not renew your lease at the end of its term, and you would have to move out. Work with the health dept. Can you show them any "droppings" or a chewed-on food package? Maybe they can provide you with some traps to catch them (either dead or alive) which would prove the critters are there.

Re: No, they cannot. Are there other problem also? by Anonymous on April 12, 2014 @22:45	[ Reply ]

It would be nice that all tenants across this great country starting calling someone now, like heath department, city inspector, police, etc...

Re: can I be evicted for calling board of health? by Anonymous on April 13, 2014 @01:51	[ Reply ]

No, you will not be evicted if any rodents are found by the board of health. The board of health can stop the place from providing housing and receiving rent until the rodent situation is cleared up, though. If this happens, you may have to move to alternative housing until the building is shown to be free of rodents. Alternative housing could be a different apt or even a different building..... Are you on lasik, by chance? If so, have your health care provider check to make sure you are on the correct amount of potassium to counter act lasik's side effects. (This could be a medication error.)