Friendswood Woman's Apartment Rat Infestation Leads to Forced Move and Financial Loss

Rat Infestation Nightmare

• 🐀 Victoria Trigo describes a nightmarish reality at Baywood Apartments, beginning in July, due to a severe rat infestation.
• 💡 She first noticed signs of rats chewing through the carpet and then discovered droppings in her pantry and bedroom.

Property Damage and Food Loss

• pantry items like bread and tortilla chips were chewed into, forcing her to throw away all her food.
• 🏠 Victoria discovered a hole in her closet, and despite management patching it, new holes appeared, with one rat even chewing its way out of a glue trap, leaving blood on her clothes.

Management Response and Rent Increase

• 🏢 After the escalating issue, apartment management moved Victoria to a new unit but raised her rent by $300.
• 🚫 Management refused to reimburse her for damages and lost food, and initially acknowledged a rodent issue but later refused to answer questions.

Tenant Rights and Legal Recourse

• ⚖️ Eric Kowalter of the Houston Eviction Advocacy Center explains that landlords have about a week to fix issues after receiving a certified letter.
• 💰 If landlords fail to act, tenants who have paid rent can take them to small claims court for damages, including statutory damages which act as a cash penalty.

Seeking Resolution

• 🗣️ Victoria hopes that by speaking out, she can achieve a financial resolution with apartment management and help others avoid similar distressing situations.