Spider and scorpion problems in rental home: what do I do and why won't my landlord pay for it?!?!

Question

My husband, myself and my two little children (2 1/2 and newborn) live in a rental house out in the woods. This past saturday I was stung on my thumb by a scorpion. The pain was excruciating and I had to go to the ER to get a pain shot (not sure but I might be allergic to them). We have had terminix come out today and spray our home, and I spoke to my landlord (we live out in Arkansas) and he claims that he is not going to be held responsible for footing the bill for the pest control. I've never heard of a landlord NOT taking care of something like this, especially when it doesn't have anything to do with our living habits but rather the area and property we live on. Should I fight this and try to take legal action? I'm also tempted to move out of the house entirely, but my husband doesn't want to leave. I'm just scared our two children might get stung or hurt, and it will affect them worse b/c they are so small. Is the terminix spraying enough? Am I overreacting?

Answer 1

No. You are paying rent and can therefore report the property having a considerable hazard as you would if there was dangerous mold.  As landlord, he has a responsibility to provide a reasonably safe property for rental.  This is not due to your negligence and you have children to be concerned about who can not know the danger.  Moving may have to be an option.  Brown recluse spiders are be very dangerous.  Law suits are no good after catastrophe.

Answer 2

he would be held responsible if it was only his structure of residence that had the risk of harm.  If there were a mold issue...the type of roaches considered health problems....rats and probably bed bugs he would be responsible but scorpions and spiders are an environmental issue that will probably be found house to house for many square miles around you. He would have no control over scorpions as he would a timber rattler getting on the property ot black bear breaking into the home.

Answer 3

You are over reacting.  

If you had roaches or mice, and lived in a city apartment - you most certainly would have the right to demand a landlord pay for extermination fees.

however - scorpion are creatures of the outdoors - and you and family did deliberately rent a house in the woods for all the good environment to raise your children in.  You cannot expect a landlord to exterminate a forest just so your little ones don't get bit by something.  That is just plain unreasonable.

Yes, your kids are just going to get bit by a few bugs....they will get over it.  I am quite sure they will get far more poison oak, ivy and sumac than the city kids.

You did not move your kids out to the woods to get bug bit or rashes - but these things are common in the woods.   I am also quite sure you knew this prior to doing so.

Now the question is - do you prefer gangs, thugs, and low class types that lives in many city apartments, or do you prefer to raise your kids in the country and just accept a few bug bites and rashes as the cost?

Some prefer the city and the c**p that goes with it....others prefer the bugs and rashes.  It is just a personal choice.