[pricehill]

If my lease states that my apartment is free of rats ,rodents and vermin and for the past 6 months of my tenency I have had them is that a breach of contract ?

[ballengerb1]

Not a breach but something the landlord must address. It is similar to a plumbing problem. The LL may not have caused the issue but he must address it.

[pricehill]

Yes ask away!! However I have a section 8 voucher and the only thing that the housing authority is telling me is that she has to provide traps for them .the lady is so worried about losing the money that she won't even terminate my lease.. so I have to live in an infested apartment with rats and mice with my 5 children until December?? we have caught at least 20 of them and when the glue, spring,and poison blocks were put down they would come out of hiding half dead .I have a child with asthma witch is two and the youngest is one isn't this a hazard to the health of my children?

[Justwantfair]

Is there a Health Department that you can get involved?

(The line you are addressing for ballengerb1 is his signature line, he wasnt' referencing that he had any questions for you.)

[pricehill]

Yes I contacted the health department and leagalaid I really just want to move out its very uncomfortable,and I really think the neighborhood and the building is so infested that there is no getting rid of them

[Justwantfair]

The section 8 housing in our area is the same way, there isn't any quality section 8 housing available here either.

Do you have options do get off housing assistance into a more suitable living environment?

What did the Health Department and Legal Aid tell you?

[pricehill]

They haven't gotton back with me on that yet and right now I don't have any other resources to get out and the messed up thing is these people know the situation and I really feel like I'm being taking advantage of .I have 5 children a single mom no job no income besides welfare and I am entitled to the subsidy and can't even make the decision on whether or not I want to live with rats or not .its scary that the landlord is taking me through this and I have no say on the quality of housing I receive.. there aren't any laws that protect people like me . My lease says no rats or rodents.. so does that mean I can break my lease and move? she broke her part!

[Justwantfair]

Please download the following and review.

Then Google online to find your own states tenant and landlord laws, but this will be a good starting point for you.

Landlord-Tenant Rights in IL.pdf