Apartment Mgmt office Charge me for Roaches?

I have moved my current apartment on May 07. We have found some roaches when we have moved into this house. One tenant who was stayed downstairs vacated his house. One new tenant had a visit on that house and he found some roaches on that house. So he complient to the Manager. Later they came to my house and they did the exterminating process for roaches. Then I have got a notice from my apartment manager saying that " I am the responsible for all charges associated with exterminating my apartment, other apartments and the hallways of the building". Also he mentioned on that notice that "My filthiness has resulted in roaches going into downstairs apartments and in the hallways of the building".
Also I have heard from my upstairs tenant that the management office put 400$ charge for the same reason on June 07.

What can I do? Can I call the police to resolve this issue?

IT's a civil matter so the police can not help you. You can try small claims court to get your money back but you will have to prove that you didn't bring the roaches in. Your upstairs neighbor may want to get in on this. There is no place I know of that charges $800 to spray for roaches. That's why you complain to your landlord about everything and you do it in writing, return receipt so you have proof that the letter was received and you have a copy. You should also take pictures of everything when you move in so that you have proof of what it looked like when you moved in and when you leave take pictures of what it looked like. It's your only way to fight a bad landlord. However if you brought roaches in and the building got infected, that's another story. You then are responsible for the damages and multiple sprayings. But she can't charge both of you for the same thing. That's illegal. She will probably apply anything you pay to the charges first, and then to rent so be sure you are not accumulating late charges too. If many of you confront her with the idea that there were roaches before you moved in, the whole thing should end and then you tell her you want the building exterminated on a regular basis. Be careful smelling that stuff, it is dangerous.

No, but I would check your lease. Most respectable apartment buildings INCLUDE pest control and SHOULD NOT be charging YOU for it. At least this is how MY apartment complex does things. I've never heard of holding ONE resident responsible for a pest problem. Most roaches come in from OUTSIDE.

Wow. You ever wonder how a management company can charge for something that follows under the heath and safety codes. They are in violation of health and safety codes with there charges. Call the heath Department. They will get it all straightened out for you.

It's a fine line... but yes they can charge you for it.... but only for what it cost them to correct the issue. You would have to prove that the roaches did not come with you when you moved. Depending on where you live that can be hard to do. I know where I live Roaches are not native and the only way that they get into apartments is if someone brings them in. the most common way they get in is through paper products or bulk foods (gross! I know) I would ask in writing to see what they were charged. If there is a difference between that amount and what they have charged you, I would then again put in writting that you would like to them to reduce the charges to the actual damages.

oh and did you tell them about the roaches right away? If not then there is nothing you realy can do. Most places have a clause in there leases that if you do not notify management right away about damages in your apartment thus making them worse, then you are responsible for the damages.

You should have called them when you saw the very first one crawling around.... they are nasty creatures.

good luck

Roaches can come in, in many ways, They can come from neighbor apartments, your children can bring them in from school or from a friend's house, (they hide in jacket pockets) etc. Roaches are survivors. They can live on a few crumbs of meat on your counter top, or from the grease in a uncleaned fry pan left on the stove top, and they can live on each other. If a tenant of mine complains about roaches, I call a pest control man and when I let him in, I observe the cleanliness of the apartment. If I feel that the tenant is a contributor because of the cleanliness of the kitchen, I send them a polite educational letter on roach problems. If I get another complaint from the same tenant, I go to the grocery store and buy them a can of roach killer. I also warn them about the danger from the spray to children crawling on the floor. I do not allow pets in my buildings.

How about you clean your apartment. I find it hard to believe that after inspection of your unit and the claim that your place is filthy that you aren't a contributing factor to the roaches. Maybe you ARE the problem. I suspect that there may never have been a problem prior to you moving in.

I live in an apartment and because my neighbors are filthy pigs, I now have roaches for the first time ever. I have lived here for 16 years and never had roaches, but with the new disgusting pigs next door, I have a problem.

Why should my landlord be responsible for exterminating the entire building because you don't know how to clean up your leftover food.