If my apartment complex is making me pay $1848 for bed bug treatment, do I have the right to say no?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If my apartment complex is making me pay $1848 for bed bug treatment, do I have the right to say no?
If yes, how do I make them pay the amount? They had 2 ineffective treatment several months ago. Even after I told them to get a heat treatment, they got the apartment treated with their contracted pest control company. Latest heat treatment was done last month. Now they are charging me, stating that it is their company policy and also bed bugs are not brought by complex people.
Asked on November 24, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
The landlord is normally responsible for the cost of pest-control or -removal treatments. However, if the tenant caused the infestation, such as by not keeping his/her apartment in a clean, hygienic condition, or prevented the problem from being fixed or corrected, such as by not following instructions from the exterminators or landlord about how to help treatment or avoid recurrence, then the tenant could be responsible to pay. The issue is not company policy, but fault: if the tenant is at fault, he or she may have to pay.
If the landlord thinks you are responsible for the multiple treatments and cost, the landlord could either look to take the money out of your security deposit or could sue you for the cost. If you disagree, you could either defend a lawsuit--e.g. present evidence that you are not responsible--or sue the landlord to recover money which was taken out of your deposit.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.