Tenants' Rights When Dealing With Roaches and Pests

Full Video Transcript

As a tenant, you have the legal right to safe and healthy living conditions. This legal right is known as the warranty of habitability and is implied in every residential lease in the United States. If you have been a tenant for even a short while, chances are you have encountered roaches. In many states, the continued presence of pests, such as rats, mice, and cockroaches, is a serious enough problem to violate the warranty of habitability. There are different remedies available to you in this situation, and these vary by state. They can include the ability to withhold rent or even break the lease agreement. In any case, make sure you document the infestation with photographs, videos, witnesses, and copies of letters you have sent to your landlord informing him or her of the problem.