Ants, loud neighbors and more!

[carissa249]

What is the name of your state? Ohio

Hi everyone...ok...ill make this as brief as possible...i signed a lease in March for a year on a duplex. Within 2 weeks of moving in I had to call the police on my neighbors (below me). It was 10:00pm and they were screaming and yelling...swearing...etc...my daughter who is 5 could hear every word. Over the past couple of months they have had their music blaring at all hours of the night that wakes my daughter and I. Its so bad my floor and windows vibrate. In total I have called the police 5 times...for the music and 2 domestic disputes. Also on top of that! I have a TERRIBLE carpenter ant problem. I find them all over the house...in my daughters bed...the kitchen...fish tank etc...one night I went to ask the neighbors if they had any ant spray and they said that when they lived up there they mentioned the ant problem to the landlord and the landlord blamed it on the trees. (we have one big tree in the backyard). And said they couldnt do anything about it.

Another issue is this past weekend I caught my neighbors using my water line (which i pay water) for a slip-n-slide.

I am fed up with the white trash neighbors and the ants. My daughter has bites on her that cant be from anything but the ants. I wrote and mailed a letter to the landlord yesterday. Does anyone have any ideas or know if I can get out of this lease? If i wanted these problems I would have moved to the ghetto!

Please help!

 

[BiBi]

If your landlord still refuses to do anything about the ants in your apartment you could call the health department to see if they could do anything for you (even mentioning the health department to your landlord may make them remedy the situation). Read the Ohio Revised Code on landlord/tenant rights. There should be something in there regarding your landlord's obligations.
As far as the noise from the neighbors, have you talked with your landlord about this? I had an apartment lease that specifically stated that fines would be given to tenants that caused disturbances. I would continue to call the police and complain to your landlord about it (and document everything). I don't think that landlords can be held responsible for crimes committed on their premises. When you are not using your water outside, shut it off. I had to do that once, too. I know it is a nuisance but it's the only way to keep them from using it.
If your landlord doesn't comply with the Ohio Revised Code regarding the Landord/Tenant Act, you can break your lease. But you better have solid proof of their violations or you will be responsible for paying out your lease.
If you do move, check out www.apartmentratings.com to find reviews on apartments. It's a great way to get first hand knowledge of a place before you move there. I wish I had known about it a long time ago. Good Luck.