Maybe you are a tenant whose apartment has been infested with mice, and you are wondering whether to break the lease or not. In this article, we will look at whether it is possible to break a lease contract due to mice infestations in your home or business space. In addition, we will also discuss what steps need to be taken if you want to pursue it. Lets know more about “Can I Break My Lease Due to Mice Infestation?”.
Is It Possible to Terminate My Lease Contract Due to a Mouse Infestation?
Yes. Suppose your landlord overlooks the problem and fails to offer a safe and hygienic dwelling. In that case, you may be eligible to cancel your lease due to a mouse infestation or other health danger. While mice infestation is one of many acceptable reasons to cancel your tenancy agreement, you can’t simply pack your belongings and go out. Instead, there should be various actions to avoid losing money, damaging credit, or incurring other unnecessary fees.
How to Break a Lease Due to a Mice Infestation Yourself?
You will need to first know about your rights and responsibilities in the lease agreement. Then, once you’ve learned just about everything there is to know about your obligations, you may go on to the next step. It’s time to prove you have a good cause to break your lease and make a strategy to carry it out.
Make a record of the issue.
It would help if you kept notes from the first day you see evidence of mice until you collect your deposit monies. These will include the following:
•Your attempts to reach out to your landlord
•The reaction of your landlord
•Any out-of-pocket expenses incurred since the infestation started
•Photographs of damage and proof of infestation
•Any quotations you’ve requested for cleaning your personal belongings or the rental space
•Medical issues resulting from the infestation
Notify your landlord.
You must notify your landlord as quickly as possible if you discover a mouse infestation when leasing out a house. This enables them to take the necessary procedures and activities to solve the issue. If you’ve provided your landlord ample time to deal with the bug and they still haven’t done so, you may be able to break or cancel the agreement.
Request your landlord to resolve the issue.
With a written complaint, notify your landlord as early as you discover the infestation. Your message should have the following elements:
·A plea that the problem be rectified.
- A target date for when you anticipate the issue to be remedied.
- The ramifications of your landlord’s refusal to fulfil their obligations
- Your desire to relocate
- Your plan to sue for costs spent as a result of a mouse infestation, including days when the apartment was unusable.
Use harsh and professional language when writing your demand letter but avoid becoming intimidating. The evidence should be persuasive enough to make your case. You might even include your notification in this demand letter, which is reversible under certain circumstances.
What Can I Do If My Landlord is not fulfilling his obligation to remove the mice?
Suppose they are bound by law to cure the mice infestation but refuse. In that case, you can report them to your local housing authorities or state health department and take them to court if the lease requirements have been breached.
Most landlords prefer to avoid this, so they will strive to fix the problem. However, suppose you are responsible for getting rid of the mice. In that case, the most appropriate measure is to hire a cheaper pest extermination company to take care of the situation. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, Amazon has a set of nice mouse traps that are no-touch, instant death, and reusable for under $20.
Suppose the situation is significant and you are unable to resolve it. In that case, you should consider other lease agreement severance options. One alternative is not to extend the contract when it expires. You might also inform the landlord that you wish to end the lease and would be looking for a new renter. Of course, if the contract prohibits subletting, the landlord may refuse, but it doesn’t hurt to inquire.
If all other options fail, the last choice is to quit the property.
In most cases, you will be liable for paying the outstanding rent. In many places, however, this will compel the landlord to reduce their losses by finding a new renter. You’ll be free of the outstanding rent payments once the new tenant moves in and begins paying rent (if it’s at least the same as yours).
Conclusion
Living with a mouse infestation is awful, but the good news is that if your landlord doesn’t fix the problem, you can break your lease. Even if your landlord refuses to remedy the situation, you have other choices, as we outlined.
