My family moved out of an apartment at the end of September. The lease ended in August and we paid on a month-to-month basis. The apartment was infested with mice and roaches. The maintenance workers placed steel wool in cracks to prevent the mice from coming in. The exterminator placed bait. I was responsible for my own traps. The mice never went away. We saw 12 mice and caught about 6. When I called to complain about the mice (before the exterminator came), I was told, "Well, you live on the first floor." Then they sent the exterminator. Upon seeing the sixth mouse, I called the afterhours number and left a frustrated message asking the manager to please tell me what they were going to do to get rid of the mice. No response.
I argue that this is not a safe and healthy environment, a condition that the manager is supposed to provide, in accordance with the contract.
Now, after we've moved out, I'm being charged for "damages" like carpet replacement. I know that the carpet was not new or clean when I moved in (and I noted this on the move-in checklist). And I know that there were a few marker stains from my kids. But, I don't understand why I would be charged to replace the entire carpet. There are water damage and mold stains from where the AC unit leaked under the carpet, a condition the manager knows about and says is not my responsibility. I think they are charging me for entire carpet replacement because of the mold, not the marker stains. I'm pretty sure marker can be shampooed out.
Is there any way to fight the carpet charges on the basis of the landlord breaking their part of the lease that requires a safe and healthy environment? I mean, could I argue that I am not responsible for the damages (my part of the contract) because the manager didn't hold up their end of the contract (safe and healthy environment)?
I argue that this is not a safe and healthy environment, a condition that the manager is supposed to provide, in accordance with the contract.
Now, after we've moved out, I'm being charged for "damages" like carpet replacement. I know that the carpet was not new or clean when I moved in (and I noted this on the move-in checklist). And I know that there were a few marker stains from my kids. But, I don't understand why I would be charged to replace the entire carpet. There are water damage and mold stains from where the AC unit leaked under the carpet, a condition the manager knows about and says is not my responsibility. I think they are charging me for entire carpet replacement because of the mold, not the marker stains. I'm pretty sure marker can be shampooed out.
Is there any way to fight the carpet charges on the basis of the landlord breaking their part of the lease that requires a safe and healthy environment? I mean, could I argue that I am not responsible for the damages (my part of the contract) because the manager didn't hold up their end of the contract (safe and healthy environment)?