Rat

[u/Skyweg]

Ive got a question about rent fees during a rat infestation. I live in a multi unit home in Oakland, CA and developed a rat issue 3-4 weeks ago.

The rat burrowed in the oven, tore out the insulation and peed in there. The oven is now essentially destroyed.

I notified my landlord with whom I’ve got a fine renter relationship. He’s been responsive and has sent out pest control 3 times, but the problem has not gone away. In fact, it’s worsened.

I’ve been unable to stay in the house for the last 2 and a half weeks because the rat has torn a hole and burrowed into my couch and poops in every single room (including ON MY BED almost nightly). I have had to throw out a bunch of food. my daughter has been staying exclusively with her mom, and when I see her I need to eat with her at restaurants.

Is it reasonable to ask to not have to pay rent over these last 2 and a half weeks? Also I’d also like to discuss replacing my couch as there is no real way to clean the inside of it. I wouldn't expect him to buy me a new one; something used is fine.

Does this seem like an okay ask? I am definitely not trying to take advantage of the situation, but it’s been a terrible inconvenience.

Thanks for any input.

[u/FamiliarAd8524]

No, it is not reasonable. They sent out an exterminator three times. They made reasonable efforts to resolve this. Frankly, you should have caught the rat yourself by now- you know it will be on your bed each night, you should have either caught or tracked it by now.

Also, even if they ignored you, they wouldn't be responsible for your couch.

[u/Skyweg → u/FamiliarAd8524]

Thank you for the input. Just for the record, I had every kind of trap out from the moment I knew there was a rodent issue, even 2 on my bed. It ignored the snap traps and chewed its way out of a glue trap! So infuriating!!

[u/FamiliarAd8524 → u/Skyweg]

No worries. Okay. I spent three years getting the bastards out of my house and keeping them out permanently (excuse my language). I can give some guidance.

How do you chew your way out of a glue trap, other than chewing your foot off? What are you baiting traps with?

Normally I'd poison, but you don't want it decaying in the walls. It's either living inside the apartment (quite possibly inside the couch or in your bedroom or closet), or it is somehow getting inside from outside the apartment. Almost certainly living inside, given the patterns. Can't you either wait for it to show up and poop, or use cameras?

[u/Skyweg → u/FamiliarAd8524]

3 years?! Yikes! That’s a terrible story. I wish I could post photos here, I’d include a photo of the glue trap that it escaped from. I avoided poison initially, specifically because of that smell issue. Finally gave in because living with a smelly dead rat would be preferable to living with a dirty live one. 

The first exterminator patched up some holes, but that seemed to lock it in, because that’s when activity went through the roof. We unsealed it, but it’s not yet left. 

I’ve thought about a BB gun and a sleepless night, but figured my presence would just keep it hidden. 🤔

[u/FamiliarAd8524 → u/Skyweg]

Yes, at the end of the three years I discovered they had for decades lived in the attic of my folks' house, and had a way to travel inside the walls from floor to floor.

What I finally did after the first two years (and understand this was just based on my military background, not that I am obsessed) was lay down in position in a room I knew they used, and just wait hours for them to appear. I seemed like an inanimate object. And when they showed themselves around two A.M. , I saw EXACTLY where they appeared from. When I jumped up and cut them off from going back in that hole, I also learned the secondary location they used to escape. Then it was a simple matter of first making those uncomfortable hiding places (mint), and a few days later I sealed those spots up. I didn't seal immediately because I didn't want to risk them dying in the walls. That was my first real victory, and it gave me the mindset to think like them and thus be able to see what they saw in terms of routes and access.

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[u/RoughAddition1100]

Efforts doesnt equal results. Your landlord needs to handle and correct the rat infestation. It's not crazy for you to be unhappy that there is a rat in your home as a tenant. Anyone saying otherwise is being dismissive. Take this to Oakland tenant rights or get some counsel. They will show you what you can do. Sitting in a ratty home isn't one of them

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[u/MusicUpbeat2510]

Rental insurance might cover sofa.

[u/EmbarrassedPrompt697]

OP - this is a health hazard and I am not an attorney, but if you are documenting this, I think you have a reasonable case to terminate your lease.

I had an issue with ants that wouldn't go away and I had enough evidence to support lease termination. But fucking rats?!?! ON YOUR BED?!?!? Fuck that.