Brown Recluse, Lease Breaker?

Question

I live in an apartment complex and I have a Brown Recluse infestation going on 3 months now. I have called the apartment management numerous times and every Thursday they send maintenance out to check the traps and spray. The spraying apparently doesn't work because I catch 2 or 3 every week. I have been told that since it is an apartment complex, they will be hard to get rid because they live in between the walls and they would have to probably spray every apartment. I'm sorry but I refuse to live with an infestation of dangerous spiders. Could the Brown Recluse be a lease breaker???

Answer 1

Your best bet is to advise your landlord you will contact the health department if he doesn't correct the problem. Then do it.  But first I would verify that they are in fact Brown Recluse.  Catch one and take it to the health department.  At that time you can ask them if they require landlords to correct or else.  You wouldn't want anyone else to get bitten.  You may also want to talk to your other neighbors, more than one complaint carries more weight.

Your lease may or may not have provisions to release you from its obligation when the landlord does not make a reasonable effort to keep the apartments safe.  You would be better off if you took this question to a local lawyer or tenant advocate.

Answer 2

Anything is possible.  Contact the health department and see what they have to say.  If they can deam the place uninhabitable, yes you can break the lease.

Pesticides don't work, take it from me, a Brown Recuse Bite victim.

Check out this site:

http://www.brown-recluse.com

Answer 3

I don't know.  In Australia they definitely wouldn't break a lease because of a poisonous spider/s.  I've yet to rent a house that hasn't had one or more varieties.  We have a tenant's advisory hotline here that will answer any questions like that for you and let you know your rights.  Maybe there's something like that in the States?  It would be your best bet to get the proper info.

Answer 4

h**l yeah. that sounds like a dangerous environment. possibly fatal.