Tenant Rights For Infestation

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Summary

In North Carolina, landlords must maintain habitable premises. If a roach infestation makes your apartment unfit to live in, you may have grounds for constructive eviction and could potentially break your lease. Consult a local attorney for personalized advice.

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I am a tenant in an apartment complex. My unit is invested with roaches. My landlord has broken their side of the lease with proving a clean and healthy living space. The place is infested with roaches and this is not the first roach issue with this apartment. Photos have been taken of each siting as well. This apartment complex placed me and a roommate into a different complex due to our first one being infested with roaches and informing us * hours before our move in then they promised us the new apartment would not have pest issues which it does. It is infested.
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, Carmen. Could you please let me know what state you're in? This will allow me to provide relevant information about tenant rights and landlord obligations in your jurisdiction.
North Carolina
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, Carmen. In North Carolina, landlords are obligated to:
- Maintain fit and habitable premises.
- Comply with building and housing codes.
- Make all repairs to keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.
If they fail to do so, you have several options including reporting the issue to local health or housing authorities, or pursuing a lawsuit for damages.
Am I able to break this lease due to them breaking their part of the lease by not proving a clean and healthy living environment
In North Carolina, tenants may have the right to "constructive eviction" if landlords fail in their duty to provide habitable premises. If you can prove that the roach infestation renders your apartment unfit to live, you may be able to break the lease. However, it is advisable to consult a local attorney before making any decision.