I live in a smaller apartment (40 units) in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our landlord is a big old company whose motto, as far as I can tell, is death before duty. A bunch of us have had an ant problem for a long while. I finally started the ball rolling in our smaller tenant whatsapp chat and then with a paper letter to every unit in the building. The offer was for anyone who wants to join a “demand letter” asking the landlord resolve the ant problem or we will go to arbitration to seek a work order and monetary compensation.

A bunch of folks were really excited and have joined in! A larger number of folks responded with heart breaking stories of neglect or close to criminal fraud/negligence etc. For those of us who have been here awhile, many confided that they wanted to help but were afraid because if they get evicted, they’ll never be able to afford anywhere in the city again.

It’s slow, dull, letter writing kind of work but that’s the kind to which I’m ideally suited! A little scared as these folks are scum and I know there will be blowback but what this company is doing just isn’t right and I won’t stand for it.

  • OwOarchist@pawb.socialEnglish
    53·
    2 months ago

    As the identified ringleader, you need to be prepared for: “We have decided to decline renewing your lease during the next lease period.”

    • chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world
      26·
      2 months ago

      Depends on local laws. I recently went through something similar with my landlord and there are anti-retaliation laws in place for just such an occasion. Granted, I live in a very tenant friendly state in the US, so that mileage is gonna vary.

  • toiletobserver@lemmy.world
    18·
    2 months ago

    What are your tenant rights? In some US states, tenants can hire professionals to perform work and deduct the amount paid from rent when the landlord is negligent in their duties.

    • chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world
      14·
      2 months ago

      Very true, but if this is the route you go, make sure to document EVERYTHING including attempts to contact the landlord before doing this.

      • MyBrainHurts@piefed.caOPEnglish
        12·
        2 months ago

        Yeah, super high risk high reward. I read a lot of previous arbitration decisions where folks went this route and lost…

    • MyBrainHurts@piefed.caOPEnglish
      14·
      2 months ago

      I’m in BC so we have a boatload of rights actually! But, enforcing them outside of an emergency is a little time consuming and a painstaking process.

      For things like this, you generally want to go to arbitration so that you know you’re in the clear. Also, ants being a whole building problem requires more than any of us could risk individually.

      Happily, the landlord should receive a legal order to deal with it satisfactorily and we expect some amount of monetary compensation for the time we’ve spent living with danged ants.