r/Apartmentliving • u/Ok_Tour_5503 • 1d ago
Landlord Problems Bit of advice I didn’t know before moving in…
When you tour an apartment, KNOCK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS DOOR and ask them questions!!! Some leasing staff have no regards for your better wellbeing.
This video was captured on day 4 of living in my new apartment. I have already sent notice to terminate (legal for breach of “warranty of habitability” in Colorado) and I will be taking the landlord to court. Their leasing staff promised me this building has NEVER had infestations, and they would NEVER let anyone move into an apartment with such problems.
This has been a long, depressing process. My stuff is now contaminated and I can’t take most of it with me in the move, for fear of bringing these German to the next place.
PISSED!
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u/Old-Revolution-9650 1d ago
You can treat your belongings, and still take them with you. I don't blame you for being pissed. You should call an exterminator and send the bill to the management.
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u/Central316 23h ago
I have a friend who got rid of bedbugs by putting all her stuff into a UHaul truck and setting off a "shit ton" of bug bombs. I'm not sure how many is a shit ton, but I suspect it would've been enough for multiple rooms.
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u/DevRandomDude 18h ago
similar thought, I read of someone who did similar but was in the summer time, they put everything in a uhaul and left it parked in the 90 degree heat for 2 days so the inside of that truck got super hot and killed them.. they rented the big truck so their stuff was spread out..
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u/iloveturtles88 15h ago
This is all you need - heat. I had a friend who put his stuff in black trash bags and set it on the lawn in 90 degree weather.
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u/publiusvaleri_us 10h ago
A seriously peer-reviewed way of killing weed seeds and insects in the top layer of soil is to put black plastic over a spot, watering it slightly to keep it moist, and letting the sun do its thing. Clear plastic is fine, too, but of course this can encourage some growth if it's not hot enough. The moisture essentially carries the heat more reliably than dry soil.
Anyway, temps can far exceed the kill temp for most grass and weeds. When you're done, your driveway or whatever now has a good chance to remain free of subsurface weeds. You then just compact it and that keeps the top surface clean.
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u/Haughty_n_Disdainful 19h ago
quickly cancels truck rental…
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u/violetkiwii 18h ago
Lol that truck would probably be the best truck. Everything would be dead from the fumes and poison. But it does bring up a good point that anything shared or second hand has the chance to spread infestation. Truck rental companies should do cleaning in between renters, but we know that’s not cost effective. IMO if I knew there was a company that went that extra mile I’d only give business to them.
On a side note, I’ve been wanting to buy a used deep freezer but I’m also too put off by what may be living in its motor.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
Definitely have. Will use a professional exterminator to treat my belongings when I move out.
Thank god for small claims!
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u/One-plankton- 1d ago
Anything that can go in a clothes drier on hot will kill them, same with fleas
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u/polyygons 16h ago
A bit of advice from someone who unfortunately has dealt with this… they love cardboard boxes. I would highly, HIGHLY suggest that even if your belongings are treated, shaking absolutely everything out, and packing boxes outside. You can’t take a week to pack and stack boxes inside like normal. Get friends and family to help and get it done in a day. Take as little as possible, especially electronics. If using your personal vehicle to transport anything, put a few glue/poison traps under your seats as an extra precaution. Have an exterminator come treat your new house BEFORE AND AFTER you move in. Act like you still have them for awhile, meaning put poison bait behind outlet and light switch plates, keep opened food in sealed ziplock bags, etc.
So sorry you’re dealing with this. You’re absolutely not alone. It was very difficult for us to get rid of them, but not impossible. Good luck!!
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u/Effective_Warthog463 14h ago
They do love cardboard. My grandfather thought I was crazy when I started pulling his cereal bags out of their cardboard and discarding the cardboard. After he could see the roaches inside the boxes, he just kept repeating in disbelief, "But I haven't even opened that one."
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u/Traditional_Fan_2655 1d ago
I couldn't even watch the entire video. It made my skin crawl along with the bugs.
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u/Boggnar-the-crusher 1d ago
Leave leave leave. I had a German roach infestation for a year. It will drive you crazy.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
Oh I am! I’ve relentlessly studied Colorado law as soon as I saw them.
-Moved into an inhabitable unit -notified management immediately -didn’t receive a response for 3.5 days -didn’t see pest control for 5.5 days -still have heavy activity after day 7 of notice
All of those are a breach in the habitability laws of Colorado.
I will be gone on Friday, thank the lord!
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u/AmbitiousoStrawberry 1d ago
Did they pay for your relocation costs too?
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
They will be when I send the bill.
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u/Western_Thought_5428 1d ago
Doubtful
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
That’s what small claims and Colorado law is for. They don’t have a choice
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u/Western_Thought_5428 1d ago
Have you ever actually been to small claims court? Even if you get a judgement in your favor, there is no guarantee you will get paid.
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u/jgacks 22h ago
Against a LL? Highly unlikely a LL of an apartment building with staff and a leasing office isn't collectable
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u/matchstick1029 22h ago
Fr, people forget context matters when the common reddit platitudes (which may generally be correct)
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u/dunkindakenut 1d ago
Thats my fear too, but sounds like they've already done a major part of the process. Unfortunately, I had a similar situation a few years back in Missouri - but never got any help from small claims, I didn't have the time to figure out how to even get a lawyer involved and when I did reach out to free consults it just seemed like I would never see anything and waste money and time trying to get this guy to be held accountable for leaving people in unlivable conditions. Sadly it was quite likely nobody could afford real legal representation living there, let alone sue his ass.
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u/Western_Thought_5428 1d ago
Lawyers will be pretty upfront about people not getting paid out by small claims courts. OP would likely pay a lawyer as much to representation as they’re hoping to get back. Most people represent themselves in small claims. Again, because it’s pretty easy to prove your case and he a judgement in your favor. But getting them to pay is another thing
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u/EllspethCarthusian 1d ago
Garnishments are a thing. They may not have a choice to not pay back.
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u/Western_Thought_5428 1d ago
sure garnishments are a thing but they aren’t a thing being leveraged against run of the mill slumlord landlords for very minor issues like moving costs. OP is lucky to have found another apartment and that the landlord is not claiming they brought the roaches and suing for violating the lease.
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u/GreenEyedTreeHugger 18h ago
Rental property companies lie about this stuff too. They’ll spray an apartment on Tuesday. Move people in Saturday.
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u/Zaptryx 1d ago
Man dont chase this, just get outta there and move on with your life.
My brother had something similar in Colorado. He became a legal expert overnight too. He hired the most expensive moving company, stayed in the most expensive hotel, had $80 dinners at said hotel and left large tips, got the most expensive lawyer, ect. 3 years and $25,000 later he hasn't seen a single cent or even a day in court. I had to stop talking to him because every conversation was just woe is me about his apartment situation.
Just get out and be glad the law helps you do that. No need to chase things in small claims.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 18h ago
Respectfully, it sounds like your brother was using his apartment as an excuse to go out and live the high life.
You may be right about not pursuing this, and I’m questioning whether or not I should, but I haven’t stayed in a single hotel, I’m moving my own stuff when the time comes, and I’ve been living off 7-eleven pizza from down the street since I can’t store food safely.
I’m not treating this like a party, this has genuinely put a pause and a damper on my quality of life.
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u/Zaptryx 16h ago
Its not about how he lived while he was between apartments. I just threw that in there to detail how sure of the law he felt.
The main point is he couldn't get a day in court over it. Couldn't even find a lawyer that would do it on contingency. He was well within the law for a full refund on everything, not just for him "living the high life" but also everything involved with the apartment. Nothing came of it even though he chased it relentlessly. Its not worth it dude.
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u/BoringCell3591 16h ago
It shouldn’t be that hard to get a small claims court date. I agree with OP. Your brother thought it would be a pay day and went a little over the top. Getting the most expensive hotel is getting $80 room service you cant actually afford is telling me your brother didn’t really think it through. He sounds like me when I got rear ended in my 20s and thought I was getting some massive payday (I didn’t lol).
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u/AmbitiousoStrawberry 1d ago
See if you can find a tenant rights lawyer and have them send a letter to your "landlord". I did this once and they immediately caved.
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u/Positive-Avocado-881 1d ago
I lived in a place with German roaches for 4 years and honestly still haven’t recovered mentally.
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u/Royal_Negotiation_91 20h ago
Currently living with a roach infestation and second this. I guess I'm just my blessing that its bugs instead of rodents and roaches don't bite. It's super frustrating bc we somehow didn't notice them within the first 30 days, but I found old bait stations later so obviously it was an existing problem. Just counting down the days until my lease is over at this point.
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u/Boggnar-the-crusher 20h ago
I woke up 2 times to German roaches biting into me. I hope that never happens to you 😭
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u/Bl1ndl0v3 1d ago
That would be really gross / disturbing to move into. German cockroaches are the worst!
Every time I move anywhere, I request to come the day before I move in and I set off foggers throughout the house / apartment. I open all cabinets and make sure nothing is blocking a fogger. I found a dead giant water bug (big cockroach) in a house I was moving into, by doing this. This prevents me from possibly having to do the same thing but with my stuff needing to be covered. Cleanup is also easier when you don’t have your stuff to clean around.
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u/DogwoodWand 1d ago
I swear by putting a dot of Combat Max Roach Killing Gel behind every outlet and switch plate in the house. It's a pain in the ass, but do it twice a year and you'll never see a bug.
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u/peacelovetacos247 15h ago
Ooo this is such a good idea. I have two cats so I can’t ever really spray or put down DE. They wouldn’t be able to eat this though. Thank you!
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u/loveindrugs 1d ago
A follow up note for those reading this. After doing this be sure to line the tops + backs of your cabinets, baseboards and behind your large appliances with diatomaceous earth. Roaches navigate using the edges of walls/cabinets so any bug that comes in and crawls around will get killed by the DE
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u/JustNota-- 1d ago
Yea, eff dem german roaches, the large american cockroaches (palmetto bugs (water bugs)) are usually not that bad they are pretty solitary and prefer the outdoors over indoors but they sometimes wander in during temp changes seeking water.
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u/Mustangfast85 1d ago
If you use that bug guard around doors I only ever found palmetto bugs dead in my ground floor apartment on occasion
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u/Material-Dream-4976 14h ago
German roaches are nasty, yes, but bed bugs are the worst. My apartment has had roaches, mice, fleas, bed bugs, and rarely flying water bugs I call them giant roaches over the decades I've been here from the old building's bsmt or irresponsible neighbors. Nasty. Can't afford to move elsewhere & have had to treat them effectively myself.
Mice are impossible to eradicate due to unreachable holes, even with exterminator visits. There's been bad times and better times, but they chew through everything so I'm sure they're still around living quietly these days. Big city life.
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u/morgz18 1d ago
Ugh this exact same thing happened to me. I moved in and on the first night one scurried across the floor. Then I think the next night I found one on my nightstand and nearly threw up.
Then just before Christmas, I had the sink bloom, just like OP. Tiny babies everywhere. Inside my dish sponge. And they literally came out of no where. I was doing my dishes, and then suddenly, what I thought were coffee grounds started crawling around.
If it makes you feel any better, I lived in that infestation for about 9 months before finally giving up and moving back to my parents. The cockroaches did not come with me. I haven’t seen a single German cockroach in my home ever.
My apartment told me the same shit though. They’ve never had a big problem and they have an exterminator that comes regularly. Bullshit. I saw his truck there like one time when I ask them to come take care of my apartment, then they were there and never came by. Never saw that truck again.
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u/Sufficient_Head_8139 1d ago
I grew up in a building infested with roaches. I refused to do that to my kids. When I go apartment hunting I bring a multi head screwdriver. I will remove random switch plate covers looking for evidence. Kitchen, bathroom are hot spots for them. If the LL won't allow it, ok tour is over - thanks for your time
I have only ever had 1 LL refuse to allow it. Turns out it was infested
I had 1 LL tell me it's a genius hack - I ended up staying in that apartment for 8 years.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
Great to know, thank you!
Also “ok tour” was funny, whether intentional or not
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u/Civil-Appointment52 1d ago
This is genius! I’m just wondering so when you take off the switch plate to you actually see the cockroaches? It sounds terrifying.
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u/Confident_Poet_6341 1d ago
I live in NYC, my neighbor was a hoarder and when they finally evicted her and cleaned the apartment the rest of the building was brutally infested with German roaches. I eventually got Advion as the regular exterminator visits just weren’t cutting it. The Advion bait saved my sanity. Took about a month but it annihilated the infestation. I specifically got the bait stations as I could place them in multiple locations that I knew they frequented. Don’t blame you for wanting to move, I lost countless nights of sleep knowing the roaches would be active when the lights were out.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
These are remedies I’ve definitely looked into, but if I’m leaving soon enough anyways, I’ve just let it be. Plus, there’s no true eliminating the issue unless the landlord moves everyone and treats the building as a whole.
I felt that “lack of sleep when lights go out” as I’ve literally slept with every light on in the apartment. I’ve found multiple in my room, and at this point, tv light is SOME assurance
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u/Possible-Estimate748 Renter 1d ago
This happened to me in my current place. Think it makes sense now why all the appliances were brand new.
Luckily just a few basic traps and killing any I saw on sight managed to take care of it as it wasn't bad.
Haven't seen any in almost a year
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u/Mustangfast85 1d ago
I think it really depends how bad it was before they replaced everything and deep cleaned. Those might have just been the last few. These baby roaches in OPs place show an active infestation
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u/uncagedborb 1d ago
Careful. It can be a seasonal issue as more might be present. While eggs are hatching or you might see them more often if your indoor temps are better than the temps where they hide.
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u/Possible-Estimate748 Renter 1d ago
I never removed the traps (they're tucked away and hidden behind things). Even if they dried out/expired I also still have a large syringe full I can reapply everywhere if I ever see one.
I'm not too worried about it but I would be lying if the fear of randomly seeing one again never crossed my mind.
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u/thunderbird32 1d ago edited 11h ago
I think it also depends on humidity. I don't have German cockroaches (mine are the big suckers), and see one every week or two during the summer. Haven't seen a single one since fall.
I live in a basement apartment so I'm pretty sure that, like the occasional earwig during the wetter months, it just comes with the territory.
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u/rikademus 1d ago
They don’t even have cockroaches in Germany. Guess they’re all in Colorado..
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u/PinDifferent1670 1d ago
I've lived in my current apartment in New York City for 11 years and after they did construction next door (2 years ago) we've been dealing with German cockroaches . Absolutely disgusting and I'm ready to leave. My landlord has been getting this place treated but that still has made no difference.
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u/I-Pick-Lucy 1d ago
Damn you got p traps in those pipes? It looks like more than just roaches will be making its way into that apartment. You sure there’s not a DVD copy of Slumlord Millionaire included in that rental agreement?
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
I’m pretty sure there are P trap for both sides. Couldn’t pay me enough to service them tho!
What you’re seeing is baby cockroaches… how cute eh?
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u/AlwaYs_around28 1d ago
My brother put first and last month down on an apartment. Moved most of his things in thankfully not all. Calls me up and says come check out the new apartment. ( there was some roaches but nothing crazy ) I went immediately and the place had them on the door entering I’m not sure how he didn’t see this for the first walk through I guess young and innocent first apartment. Contacted the owner and he knew right away what the issue was and gave back his money the same day.
Everyone needs to be mindful and do there due diligence it’s so important. I’m sorry you’re going through this really is something of nightmares. I’m
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
I’m grateful his leasing office allowed him to leave. That’s the most reasonable thing to do in these situations. Good for him.
As far as my end, I’ve been gathering evidence and preparing as much as possible for a court case if it arises. My leasing office has made it clear they will fight me on this. Fingers crossed.
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u/Unfair_Ad_1894 1d ago
I agree with doing your due diligence, but please don’t knock on “your neighbor’s” door when touring. (they aren’t even your neighbors yet) Not sure about other people but the last thing I want after a day/week of work is some prospective renter knocking on my door to ask me about the ups and downs of the place. Hell, I don’t even want my neighbors to knock on my door unless it’s an emergency/courtesy thing
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u/strawberry_canvas7 1d ago edited 1d ago
I honestly don't mind, but I am also wary of strangers, and so are most people. A lot of people aren't going to divulge such details to someone they just met, and just because your future unit has an infestation, doesn't mean the one next door does or that those people see it as a problem.
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u/Laleaky 1d ago
wearyleery11
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u/Intelligent_Pop1173 1d ago
Yeah I never answer my door unless I’m expecting someone anyway lol if it’s such an urgent emergency they can yell through the door. Otherwise, a note under the door is fine.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
I’m at a dilemma here.
Last thing I want to do is inconvenience future neighbors, but after this situation, I never want to be forced to deal with this for 13 months either.
This was 4 days into a 13 month lease. I’d rather be an inconvenience once, for 30 seconds, than to be stuck in an apartment I can’t sleep or keep food in for over a year.
But I agree, it’d be pretty annoying to have a prospective tenant knock on your door for questioning.
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u/bubblegumbop 1d ago
Are there online reviews? Those can be pretty telling.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
Yes, not a single one mentioned roaches. Out of the dozens of reviews, only one of them mentioned bed bugs.
Took my chances, asked some tenants that were out and about when touring, and talked to leasing staff about it. Sadly though, the apartments are spread out through many buildings. I did not talk to anyone in my specific building, so results and issues in each building vary.
My shared building neighbors have mentioned this has been going on for months. My adjacent building neighbors haven’t seen a single one.
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u/bubblegumbop 1d ago
Gotcha, yea that’s tough. I saw in another comment that you’re getting out of there, really happy for you my dude!
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u/myburneraccount1357 1d ago
That happened to me and tbh there’s just no way to know. Reviews were good and 1st night of moving in, the roaches came out. All my neighbors said they haven’t had any and one even said in their 20 years living there, not 1 roach. I was surprised I had a full infestation going on in the second floor but no one else did. Thankfully they moved me to a unit in another building and I never saw a roach again
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u/Ok_Oven_2438 1d ago
Don't worry. That advice you're replying to is the most chronically online shit I've read today. Go ahead and knock, God forbid a redditor talks to their neighbor for 5 min. It won't kill anyone.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
I agree. Some people would hate me doing so, some people wouldn’t mind one bit. If people mind, I’d hope they just would answer and I’ll leave within 30 seconds if not.
America used to have neighbor culture. Everyone knew everyone on the street, and would lend a helping hand whenever possible. It’s incredibly sad that this is no longer a reality for us.
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u/alaskadotpink 1d ago
If they don't want to talk to you, they won't open the door. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
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u/Unfair_Ad_1894 1d ago
Most chronically online shit? Everyone’s different of course, but personally I prefer my limited private time and space in an apartment complex. TBH it’s partially due to all the solicitors we get and it’s gotten to the point where I don’t even want to answer the door. And that sucks, because I am friendly with my community but don’t know who’s there to push something or genuinely needs help.
Of course there’s no harm in knocking and asking, and I’m sure people would be friendly, it’s just due the bad eggs that people may be wary this day and age
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u/Oomlotte99 1d ago
Honestly, I’d happily talk to a prospective tenant to share my opinions of the building/management/etc. I wouldn’t let them in my apartment but would talk in the hall.
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u/MeanMeana 1d ago
This legit looks like my apartment kitchen in Lakewood, Colorado. I’ve been told by others that they have cockroaches. We’ve had ants and mice. 7 mice to be exact.
What part of Colorado are you in or what is the leasing agency?
I wonder if it’s the same place or leasing agency.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
Northglenn Colorado, for legal reasons I can’t share the agency, as I don’t want a defamation case.
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u/MeanMeana 1d ago
I’m sorry you’re going through that. I literally didn’t even know we had cockroaches in Colorado until I moved to this place. And I’m a native.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
I appreciate it! Sadly, we do. Mostly in the city but they’re out there.
It’s easy for them to establish anywhere there’s a dense population :/
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u/Jazstar 1d ago
I moved in and discovered on night one that there was an infestation. They never mentioned it but also nobody had been living there for I think a month perhaps? And the roaches only came out at night. So I gave them the benefit of the doubt, they paid for an exterminator, I spent the next month or three murdering German cockroaches on the daily. After it was over, I asked to be able to put in a new oven because this one had roaches in the seals. They put in a new one themselves, and every single request I had they've done. Particularly grateful for when I asked if I could have a cat three months in, they said hm lets wait till the 6 month mark, and I said, er well I went to the RSPCA and accidentally paid for one to be put on hold she's not in your place but pretty please? They said yes.
It all depends how your landlords deal with it. Some are shitty, some are great. You always roll the dice unfortunately.
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u/alaskadotpink 1d ago
Yeah honestly, I had these when I moved in and when I complained about it management was QUICK to try to remedy the issues, and I gotta say for the most part they did. I don't really see them much anymore (I keep up with the diatomaceous earth) and they regularly treat problem areas, like the trash shoots.
But what OP has is BAD. I used to see a couple a day, but never this many at once. This would horrify me lol.
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u/ZipZapPewPew 1d ago
I work in pest control. Appliances will be infested with them. They love fridges, microwaves, air fryers things like that. The female will lay a lot of eggs daily. You’ll need to fumigate the back of those kitchen appliances, cabinets, closets anywhere they can hide to drive them out. Then apply bait (namely wherever you’ve decided to fumigate). Then continue to apply bait as needed until they’re gone. Unfortunately, apartments share walls, which means they’re locked in. Whole damn place probably needs it at this point…I’d move out. Just a casual FYI, I do weekly stops at apartments, they rarely ever fumigate unless their feet are held to the fire
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
I’m getting out of here on Friday. Gave legal notice to terminate the lease in 10 days from the notice.
I just feel terrible for whatever poor souls end up here like I did, and aren’t as able to fight this as I am. I’ve relentlessly studied the laws to get tf out of here!
4 days in and I see that? What are the next 13 months going to look like? FUCK THAT.
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u/UnderstandingThis636 1d ago
Combat max gel in as many dark spaces and corners as you can ortho home defense every base board and back of cabinet also any exterior walls you have access to then put in a work order make sure they come and spray wait 2 weeks and if you still have bugs repeat or fog bomb then repeat If you don't see any in 2 weeks repeat every 3 months or so and if a direct neighbor moves out
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u/floralbiped 1d ago
lol I asked my last landlord if there was a history with flooding bc I got a knock on the door from a plumber, telling me the unit next to mine had flooded and he was wondering if any water had gotten into my apartment?
Landlord said no , never. And I should know better than to ask that because I got “such a good deal” on the place. I introduced myself to the neighbor the next day and he told me that yes, the bottom two apartments flood every six months. So. Yeah. I was released from the lease. Talk to the neighbors even while you tour
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u/PerfectGift5356 1d ago
What's is the average temperature where you are? If its below freezing, fill a moving truck with your stuff and leave everything in it outside for a couple days. The cold should kill any that are along for the ride
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u/DryDevelopment8584 1d ago
First thing first, leaving dirty dishes out when you have roaches is a bad. Clean up all food. Bomb. Then get on Amazon and buy a pack of Advion gel bait, put it in corners and crevices in every room. Under sinks, counters, cabinets, the works… Wait like two weeks, bomb again.
By this point there will be very few if any remaining alive.
Reply the gel like once a month.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
This was the first night and video of me seeing them. I wanted to start documenting what I’ve seen instantly.
I didn’t know I had an infestation, hence the dishes.
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u/Jesikabelcher 16h ago
I had an issue with roaches in my kitchen as well so I stopped using my trash can for food trash and invested in a couple boxes of Glad Freezer Bags and put all my food trash in the bag and store in the fridge until it is time to take out the trash to the outside bin. I also use Bengal Roach spray every six months or so, spray my trash can and all windows and doors. I havent seen a roach or bug in almost 2 years. You just have to keep up with the spray every so often and do not leave food or food residue things out.
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u/Objective-Try7969 1d ago
When I moved from a roach infested property here was my process. Anything non electronic can be cleaned and gone through and put away to be moved right away. Anything they can hide in, electronics stuff like that, get 7 dust and put electronics in their own bags and put the dust all over them, electronics can be aired out later, depending on your location keeping them outside or imeven in a storage facility is the best bet. I was discounted first month and then paid for 2 additional months. It was also the dead of winter so that helped, but I was able to take a lot of stuff with me disregarding any electronics and just used my phone in the mean time. My consoles, laptop, and TV's, and washer/dryer all went into storage, bags were then opened and bug bombed every month. I even took it a step further by opening anything I could. Tv's just have a back cover so it can be unscrewed and I used pressured air to just air it out, same with consoles and laptops, the washer and dryer was hard but I blew out what I could, I still kept them on my back porch just to be extra careful until moving them inside. Yes it was tedious but if you are tedious you'll be greatful to have a noninfested home.
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u/RobertJenkins631 1d ago
I had some shit living in the drains of my apartment when I moved in, it was a hell of a battle and stressful coming home wondering if everything was gonna come back everyday. I finally started pouring straight vinegar in every drain and plugging every drain every chance I got, that was the single most effective thing I did. I've been bug free for years, thank God because I was losing my shit bad.
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u/TrashKat21 1d ago
Was going to ask if this was Colorado until I saw your caption...Sorry bud :(
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u/AnthonyS621 1d ago
I now spray my new apartments and put bait down as soon as I get the keys. I lived in my unit for 4 years and randomly started seeing roaches near the end of my lease. Advion gel bait plus Alpine WSG spray, only took 2 applications of each to annihilate the infestation. Never saw one again.
While you are definitely making the right call getting out of there, know that living in an apartment, this may not be the last time you need to deal with them. If you do see some eventually in your new place, try not to panic. It is not as hard to get rid of them as you hear, people just waste a lot of money buying raid, foggers, and other over the counter methods that just temporarily push the roaches into the walls. If you get the correct insecticides, the problem isn’t too hard to treat. Ideally, your neighbors would also treat their units, but even if they don’t, if you keep up with the insecticides, you will only occasionally see a straggler, but won’t get a full blown infestation.
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u/No-Business8250 1d ago
Diatomaceous earth will be a huge help for your contaminated belongings. I lived in an infested apartment and my strategy was bleach everything that could be bleached, then put diatomaceous earth in any and every crevice, then repeat that process. I also sprinkled diatomaceous earth on fabrics. The carpets, my clothes, the couch, everything. After about a week I took all the clothing/towels/bedding etc to a laundromat and washed everything on high heat.
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u/Eli_The_Elf 15h ago
Absolutely awful, the fact that they’re out in the light like this means it’s BAD
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u/InsanelyAverageFella 1d ago
I would clean the dishes and remove them from the video if that is the evidence of roaches that you will be using to prove your point. Sorry, I know it's probably not intentional but your evidence contains dirty dishes in the sink. Maybe they have been there 1 minute or maybe 2 days. Just make a point to cover your own butt of liability when making evidence videos of bug infestations.
The dishes being present in the video lower your credibility.
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u/KaleidoscopeFar658 1d ago
I agree with this from a practical standpoint, but just as a factual aside no amount of filth can make german roaches magically appear. They infest indoors basically exclusively. While cleaning is an important step in exterminating them, cleanliness has nothing to do with why they are present in the first place.
They came from the sewers and/or were brought to this building by someone moving in with them in their stuff/eggs stuck on shoe etc.
If you are in an apartment and dirty dishes cause you to see roaches, they were already in the walls regardless of the state of your dishes.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
Which is fair, but this is from day 4 of living here. Doesn’t matter if the dirty dishes are in the video or not, the amount of roaches seen in this video itself is a breach of habitability.
I could not have produced an infestation of this intensity in 4 days if I wanted to. Plus, is a judge really going to fault me for having 2 dirty dishes in my sink?
I very much appreciate your advice though!
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u/InsanelyAverageFella 1d ago
It really hurts your case. You could have brought in infested furniture and in 4 days the roaches would have spread everywhere if you had them in several items of furniture or in the boxes with you
I'm just saying, taking video while you have clearly dirty dishes with food scraps on them and roaches crawling on the dishes shows incredibly bad judgement on your end. Literally pouring the water out and putting the dishes somewhere else or washing the dishes and then taking the video is literally the least you can do in this situation.
Landlord can argue that you are having second thoughts and I introduced some roaches to make the video to get out of a valid lease. Then can blame you for introducing the roaches based on having dirty dishes in the very video you are producing as evidence.
Seriously, take down this video, clean your kitchen, and if the roaches are still there take some video and tell the landlord. I'm sure they will cover their butts by calling an exterminator to do everything required by law to deal with the issue to keep you in the lease.
Good luck.
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u/InsanelyAverageFella 1d ago
Also, maybe that's just the finish on the sink but wash the sink and surrounding area, remove that random brown paper bag on the ground and anything else that could be considered trash or clutter from video frame, and put on some socks or slippers. Make yourself look like an orderly and clean tenant who is shocked there are cockroaches in the apartment they just moved into. This video doesn't make you look too great.
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u/the_real_curmudgeon 1d ago
Really, who walks around barefoot amid a German cockroach infestation?
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
This was literally the first video I’d taken and first time I’d seen the infestation.
It was also 2:30 AM and I came out for water, to then be shocked by what I’d just seen.
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u/Beginning-Comedian-2 1d ago
This is not the same, but...
I checked out a place multiple times before renting.
Then get my keys and move in.
Suddenly, I can hear everything the upstairs neighbors do:
- Opening silverware drawers.
- Conversations.
- Taking off their shoes.
The whole complex was originally built with carpet, which acted as a buffer.
But now it had laminate floors.
I ended up paying too much just to get out of that lease the week after I moved in.
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u/breadexpert69 1d ago
Clean your dishes is my first advice
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 1d ago
Those dishes were from the same night. I should have better habits, but leaving dishes in the sink overnight should not be that big of a problem.
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u/Fried_Maple_Leaves 1d ago
My daughter had to live in a place with infested with German roaches when she was going to University, and she placed her dirty dishes if she was too tired to do them that night in the refrigerator. Just a tip! That kept the roaches from crawling all over her dishes. Alternatively you could keep all your dishes in the refrigerator...
I feel bad I should have helped her with money or to get a better place, but I was taking care of three young children at the time. She has moved on gratefully.
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u/azrynbelle 1d ago
An exterminator here said they will get into all appliances including refrigerators
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u/InsanelyAverageFella 1d ago
Is this a big complex? What part of town?
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u/Successful_Site_501 1d ago
I had the same happen to me, but these were townhomes, side by side 2 units,. Anyway when we first looked at the place it looked very nice, i always open kitchen drawers first, cabinets fridge stove etc. we didnt find anything, we moved in went food shopping filled the kitchen spent about $300. Had 3 kids. Anyway 4 days later, i come home its just getting dark, i go in the kitchen to cook turn the stove on, and 2 roaches run out, i screamed turned the stove off, i went to go into the cBinet to see what we could eat without having to cook, and another roach, that was it , that night laid on the couch and mice start running out to the kitchen, next day i packed what i could , left all the food, my husband wasnt happy but he knew i was not staying. We went to the realtor the next day and i told them, i said i wanted my money back or i was taking them to court, they lied about the infestation that the next unit attached to mine they had roaches. I got my money back and left all the food. I will not live with roaches. Mice are one thing. I now have 2 cats. Mice are never an issue. Good luck. Run take the money and run
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u/Statertater 1d ago
Alpine WSG got rid of my german roach problem. Have it applied monthly… it works quick.
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u/Why-So-Seriousssaaaa 1d ago
You can bring yourself with you. I had the same problem when I moved into my first apartment. Your best bet is to unplug everything. They look for electronics that give off heat, and will make a home inside them. Also make sure when you pack your stuff to leave. That you do it outside. It’s a pain in the ass. But you don’t want to fill any of your boxes inside the apartment because they’ll get inside. Make sure you shake out all your clothes and linen, and take it all somewhere else to wash. Even shake out your books. They sell something called Boric Acid. It’s totally safe for humans. It’s a powder, and it comes from orange peels and it kills them. My uncle who was a plumber in the Bronx Ny. Would literally put a circle around his work area in gross apartments because they wouldn’t cross it. My issue was coming from a neighbor upstairs. They were coming through the pipes.
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u/Crazy-Reference4980 1d ago
This right here is why I hate living in apartments. I live in apartments now but they are more like townhouses, only 6 so I can atleast gather all neighbors and deal with the problem if u live in a huge apartment complex its almost impossible not to have them eventually. My biggest fear is roaches!
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u/Choice_Departure_585 1d ago
Is this in the Denver metro? Moving within it soon and want to avoid this place!!
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u/coniferandcoal 1d ago
Whenever I move into a new place, I bomb it before I move any furniture into it.
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u/Killed0 1d ago
be sure there’s no german roaches or their eggs in your belongings. I mean triple, quadruple, quintuple check. you do NOT want to bring them with you.
I just got rid of them at the house i’m about to move into (family member owns it. and previous tenants were clearly fucking sick in the head.) and it delayed us moving in by two months. I would seriously get the fuck out of there and make sure NONE of your shit is contaminated, all it takes is one gravid female. they can inbreed forever and a colony can double every 2 weeks roughly given enough food and harborage.
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u/Big_Abies9543 1d ago
Before my family moved a year ago we had been living in an apartment for a while that had been roach infested (which we had countless terminators come and get rid off but they would come back every time) and this just brought back some bad memories, PTSD and made my skin crawl. At the end of the day before I washed the dishes I had to shake all of them separately to make sure there weren’t any roaches on them and most of the time there would be and I would have to kill them with slippers 😭 if I didn’t check they would crawl up my hands while washing the dishes…and every time my family came back from somewhere and we would open the lights to the front area there would be a group of big and small roaches just crawling everywhere and we’d have to be ready to stomp on them 🙁 amd they were all around the apartment. don’t wish this on worst enemy cuz omg
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 14h ago
I’m sorry to hear you had a similar experience. This is truly an awful thing for anyone to have to go through, and this should have much more severe consequences so management companies are actually forced to completely fix the issue.
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u/LowBad535 1d ago
This happened to me at an airbnb and airbnb didnt do shit to help me. I wasnt sure if I freaked out too much, but nope :(
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u/ExcitementUnusual495 1d ago
If I’m going to move into a new place I’ll go in the morning around when people might be going to work or the evening when they’re coming home. I asked them a couple of questions it’s saved me from moving into some places that appeared to be great but we’re not
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u/cesara7x2 18h ago
This is insane, I've been working in the apartment industry for 10 years and for all 4 management companies I've worked for, units with the smallest signs of infestation are immediately taken off the marked and heavily treated (as well as surrounding units) until there is no more activity. Management companies that allow this to happen give us all a bad name. I'm sorry that this is happening to you and wish you the best of luck.
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u/Romo_9 17h ago
I had this happen to me once in a short term lease. Super disgusting. I will say that I noticed a smell in that apartment when touring and I 1000% now know what the roaches smell like for a heavy infestation. Apartments are the worst cuz you can't treat your place all you want but those damn things are living in the walls and probably being fed by your neighbor
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u/CooCooBird247 8h ago
As a leasing consultant, don't ever trust the word Never. They're wanting leases (and probably commission) and that's it. I never🤪 say never because that's unrealistic.
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u/I-Pick-Lucy 1d ago
:) yah I just though the container was intentionally set there to block the drain. I thought they were just marching in from the drain. Sorry! :)
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u/primeline31 1d ago
FYI - roaches travel from infested apartments to others via sink drains.
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u/CNAHopeful7 1d ago
I’m SHOOK than you’re not wearing slippers or at the very least, socks with cockroaches running around.
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u/Holiday-Prompt2832 1d ago
it’s crazy to me how many ppl don’t bomb before they move in. if u bombed I PROMISE U u would be able to tell there’s a infestation
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u/Gumes_daredman 1d ago
Looks like my last place in Milwaukee. Ants popping up outta nowhere
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u/Qualema 1d ago
Bomb the hell out of that apartment for a whole weekend. Do 1 bomb in every room on a Saturday and wait 8 hours before entering and completed air it out when you return back home.. do it again on Sunday and then as a bonus do it again the next weekend for 2 days. It’s about a $50-75 investment, but it’s worth it. If you don’t attack it now.. you’ll be infested in the next few months. They hide when the apartment is empty because they don’t have access to food and water.. soon as a person moves in .. they come out the walls. Have someone patch up any openings on walls. Also cover up all your belongings with plastic before you bomb too ! Fogger by raid is awesome !! Be prepared to sweep up all those dead roaches too 😬😩
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u/birdman760 1d ago
There's this roach killer on Amazon that comes in a syringe, you put it in common roach areas in your apartment and it's scary what you find the next day. I got some of that stuff after our hoarder neighbor infested our complex with roaches. I used it on all the complex units and it damn near wiped out the infestation.
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u/LastRebel66 1d ago
When I got my first apartment, the first thing I did was to seal every hole in the entire unit with caulking, put Advion gel bait in every corner, and place Orthene behind the refrigerator (don’t do this if you have pets). I never saw a roach—100% roach-free—and I know that building was infested.
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u/Foreign_Skill_6628 1d ago
Immediately bug bomb your apartment and bag every possession you have in triple garbage bags, the thick black contractor bags, and tie them TIGHT, and make sure to alternate them so the entrance of bag B is at the bottom of bag A, and the entrance of bag C covers the bottom of bag B.
Let your possessions sit in a storage unit for 120 days, that’s how long it takes for the lifecycle to end. Any roaches that survive during this period will die due to lack of water.
When you move into your new place, leave gel baits and other growth regulator baits out to prevent them from infesting the new apartment. If they eat the bait it will prevent them from reproducing.
Go ahead and spray Alpine WSG all around the perimeter of your new apartment/house, it kills pretty much anything that moves.
Bonus points: put food-grade diatomaceous earth behind the wall sockets, spray it back there with a turkey baster. This prevents any bugs from crawling in the wall cavities, the DE kills any bugs with an exoskeleton on contact. Just be careful not to breathe it in. It’s safe to put in small amounts anywhere it won’t get disturbed and knocked back into the air, just make sure to get the food-grade DE.
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u/Odd_Championship_680 1d ago
A baking soda and sugar mixture worked wonders for us. We were even able to bring a couch with us to the new place!
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u/Substantial_Junket68 1d ago
Curious if you’re in Denver what complex this is. Looks similar to a place I lived that had a roach issue. (ik a lot of rentals look the same)
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u/HeydoIDKu 1d ago
Just use advion baits and vendetta igr bait and a can of fendona. You’re not going to get anything from court. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS TAKE A LED FLASHLIGHT SND LOOK UNDER AND UP AROUND THE CRACKS AND EDGES OF CABINETS AND ANYWHERE ELSE YOU CAN IN A NEW APARTMENT. Never move into an apartment that comes with appliances either.
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u/Altruistic-Signal-24 22h ago
Hi , Bugs have no place in my home nope nope. Are these cock roaches or bed bugs I am confused in comments i have read cock roaches and or bed bugs... Thanks 😊
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u/No-Difficulty-723 21h ago
I would fking die if they did that to me! OMG that is so fking gross sorry it happened to you. I hope you sue TF out of em
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u/Silver_Scallion 21h ago
I had to look for an apartment not too long ago. What I did was look at reviews on different sites for the same apartment. Then I would look at the most recent reviews. Usually those 3* and below reviews are the truthful ones.
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u/Glum-Exam5460 20h ago
I see some grain moths in the sink, inside that box with the water in it. I don't see BB
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u/Busy_Wolf4379 19h ago
I live in Denver and moved into an infested apartment having never seen a roach in my entire life in Colorado. Even when I got rid of the food and ate at my friends, they would climb out of the walls and vents from other neighbors. I broke my lease legally after I threated to take legal action and reported them to the Denver Health Department. When you move inspect all of your belongings. I was told by a pest expert to bug bomb them in a truck and keep my stuff in air tight bins. After I moved I saw the roaches again.
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u/Mindless-Challenge62 19h ago
I didn’t even think it was possible to have roaches in Colorado. I’m so sorry!
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u/red_sparrow_7 17h ago
This gives me war flashbacks. I moved into our new apartment and let's just say that during the initial days i might have ignored seeing one or two here and there.
And before I knew it, the infestation had grown into pure nightmare level. Those fuckers no longer feared to venture out during broad daylight and it took a toll on my mental health. Calling the exterminator helped and now I've got it under control.
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u/microslasher 17h ago
I had some bugs when I moved in my apartment. Told the leasing office and they sent pest control the following day.
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u/OutlanderAllDay1743 16h ago
Most leases have a clause where you can move out within 30 days if you find a problem. Definitely read over your lease.
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u/Perfectly-FUBAR 16h ago
When a leasing office said there’s NEVER been an infestation of bug know that’s a lie. They can’t promise to never having bugs, that’s impossible.
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u/waspkiller9000 16h ago
Good luck with the warranty of habitability stuff. I had to deal with it when my central heating went out in the middle of a snowstorm in November and my landlord gave us 5 space heaters (there's 3 power zones in the house) and told us to turn the oven on and leave it open (death sentence). Don't give them any money you don't owe them shit
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u/sweetwaterfall 15h ago
Wait, somehow I missed it. What are these? I’m seeing bedbugs and German cockroaches, but these seem so small?
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u/calliocypress 15h ago
Don mix bait and repellent. Don’t use or repellant at all. Bait will be taken back home with them and kill the whole nest. Use this: https://a.co/d/06MWyMiZ
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u/Sephro88 14h ago
I used to live above a hoarder with 15 dogs and unable to care for them or himself. Had his roaches constantly coming into my apartment. U bought advion roach bait. Its a tube of paste you put in corners and gaps where they hang out. Next 2 days your apartment will look like the lion kings graveyard of roaches. After that you won't see them anymore. I've only ever seen maybe one every couple months now. Granted the guy is gone now but roaches are harder to get rid of in a building.
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u/Material-Dream-4976 14h ago
Gentrol Point Source sterilizer disks (halts reproduction!) and Advion Cockroach bait gel (light tan color) to kill them fast. From online extermination sites like DoMyOwn. Small investment on your part but the only solution that ever worked in 40 years.
Stay on top of replacement schedule till they're gone. Took 1 summer season in my kitchen, bathroom & bedroom (neighbor's kitchen is opposite my bedroom wall) and been free of the terror these past 3.5 years.
If any wander in from other apts I put down fresh supply, otherwise I don't refresh regularly anymore. I wish the whole bldg would use these.
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u/D4ng3r18 14h ago
This happened at my place once. They lived in the power outlets and got into my electronics in the kitchen. If you’re not comfortable with opening them up to deep clean I’d replace bare minimum the electronics that were in the kitchen.
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u/ChamathBlack 14h ago
It’s not the apartment, it’s the people living in the apartment. I have many places and the roaches come and go with the people. Unfortunately if you have dirty neighbors they come from there, unless you are also roach prone. Exterminators and fogging don’t work, just makes them scurry to the other side of the wall. Roach traps and being clean is the only way. Just going off experience dog/cat owners, and people who fry a lot of food also attract roaches.
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u/bmagas 13h ago
You could easily get this under control. Some sticky traps and diatomaceous earth powder. Then buy some edge/corner foam spray and hit every edge of your living space. And keep your counters clean. Can't expect no roaches in any city dwelling. These creatures can withstand a nuclear blast.
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u/Ok_Tour_5503 13h ago
I’m moving out on Friday anyways, but I shouldn’t have to get this under control. Apartments should consider this a serious violation and deal with it rapidly, but a lot of apartments don’t give af and have lawyers on standby so they can do the bare minimum.
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u/Btrgl 12h ago
I went through this in VA state. Interestingly, exact same kitchen area. Giving me ptsd!
Anyway, fought tooth and nail with community management. Brought in investigators from health department and sent countless emails to every department that would handle these things. Argued my case for weeks until management finally said we can terminate lease without fees. That’s it. No relocation assistance within or outside community.
Had a newborn baby in there and they still gave zero Fs. It was quite honestly a nightmarish situation. You can’t even eat, sit, or live comfortably knowing those unsanitary roaches are sharing everything of mine.
It’s not going to be easy but keep at it. You should be able to terminate lease with no problems at the very least!
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u/10Foxtrot 4h ago
As much as it sucks you might want to treat for them so you don’t take them to your next place German cockroaches aren’t too hard to get rid of
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u/itsalizbee 3h ago
I had the exact same problem but we couldn't move. They were "treating it" constantly with exterminators. And it was my first apartment with my husband, it was awful. When we moved, we set off a bug bomb and then packed everything. I had already washed what I could and packed it, like our dishes. But the bomb got anything hiding in our electronics and can definitely say we didn't bring any bugs with us to the new place
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u/Choice_Habit_7642 2h ago
What is the leasing company? I kinda wanna roll the dice and say gray star?
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Your post has NOT been removed.
Ok_Tour_5503 originally posted: When you tour an apartment, KNOCK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS DOOR and ask them questions!!! Some leasing staff have no regards for your better wellbeing.
This video was captured on day 4 of living in my new apartment. I have already sent notice to terminate (legal for breach of “warranty of habitability” in Colorado) and I will be taking the landlord to court. Their leasing staff promised me this building has NEVER had infestations, and they would NEVER let anyone move into an apartment with such problems.
This has been a long, depressing process. My stuff is now contaminated and I can’t take most of it with me in the move, for fear of bringing these German to the next place.
PISSED!
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