Can I sue my landlord for leasing an apartment to me with bed bugs?
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Can I sue my landlord for leasing an apartment to me with bed bugs?
Landlord gave us 6 weeks free, I asked what was wrong with the unit and they said nothing. Moved in, the next day the neighbor informed us that the last tenant moved due to bed bugs. The landlord came and sprayed the unit after we found bites on us. Talk to another neighbor an he said they got bed bugs just a week before we moved in was due for a spray first week of this month. I feel like they knowingly and intentionally leased us a unit that has known bed bug problems. They seem to only treat unit by unit, so the bugs just move around. Still getting bitten. Can we void the lease and is there a claim for damages?
Asked on August 1, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Oregon
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You should. These are health and safety violations. Make sure you go back and ask to record (video and audio) those neighbors regarding the bed bugs or have them email you the information and take that evidence along with pictures of your bites and your lease to your state consumer protection agency that handles landlord tenant matters. Ask for your security back and money to move to another location and monies to stay in a hotel in the interim.
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