What are my rights as a tenant of an extended stay hotel regarding a roach problem?
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What are my rights as a tenant of an extended stay hotel regarding a roach problem?
We have had a severe roach problem for a while now. It has gotten so bad that pest control had to fumigate the room. Now the management at the hotel is trying to charge me for the cost of the fumigation. I have been there for almost 2 years now. Is this my responsibility or theirs? My rent is paid weekly.
Asked on September 29, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you have caused or contributed to the roach problem, then you can be held liable for the cost of extermination or fumigation. So, for example if the reason there is a roach infestation is that your room is unhygienic (e.g. you leave food and drink around), then you can be charged, since you are causing the expense.
On the other hand, if it is nothing you are doing, then you should not have to pay for the fumigation: you are only responsible financially to the extent that you are in fact responsible for the infestation or problem. You do not have to pay for problems which are the landlord's fault, other tenant's/guest's fault, or no ones fault (i.e. no idea why the roaches are there).
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