Dispute with landlord and pesticide use -- what would you do?

[nathalee81]

Must be different in Canada. My wife's best friend works for a guy that owns 400 apartments. They are REQUIRED to have regular pest inspections and spraying as needed. Here, the landlord would be in trouble for NOT spraying.

See, I thought when I signed my last lease on an apartment (many years ago), there was actually an addendum that stated pesticide use was not a choice. The apartments performed monthly pesticide control and never notified me.

I don't think I had a choice.

Maybe it different in Canada? Or, maybe things have changed over the years?

Personally, I would rather have pesticides than the foot long cockroaches that live in my area (they aren't really a foot long, but they are pretty big-I think they are called tree roaches?). We also have earwigs, silverfish and fire ants where I live-and I would much prefer the pesticide treatment to all of the above.

 

[Spoonful of Sugar]

Thanks for all of the responses everyone. I'm glad to hear that many people aren't concerned about pesticides. Our family is the type that eats organic, uses all natural products, etc. I suppose more than our stuff being exposed to the chemicals, I'm mad about not being told so we could have at least opened our windows and left the house. But it does make me feel better to hear that everyone thinks I'm overreacting!

As far as the laws, I believe it varies by province in Canada, so I'm sure they are different everywhere. There is nothing here saying that our landlord can't spray for bugs or that they have to, but they are supposed to tell you first, so that was the problem. To respond to previous posters, no our car seat is not that expensive! But we do have an expensive double stroller and some other things in there. And yes, it is a room meant for storage as well as a laundry room.

Anyway, I'm feeling calmer now. Still angry, but not so freaked out.

 

[bumbershoot]

Nothing. I would be happy they are spraying and not me.

We just had to spray for ants on Sunday in my pantry. Bleech.

In the future, you might try cinnamon powder. We didn't use plain old cinnamon (not sure why not) but a powder from Home Depot. Worked a charm! I was pregnant and we had a cat and I had NO interest in chemicals, so we tried it and it worked.


OP I'd be peeved, too. But I wouldn't have to be peeved because our landlady when I was pregnant would NEVER EVER in a million years done that to anyone with a baby or who was pregnant. And she's NOT an organic type person, but she just has no interest in spraying chemicals that will *kill* another living thing while around babies or fetuses/embryos. I would never have had to worry about it with her....

I know that the chemicals used in fabric/plastic production aren't pretty...I don't want 'icide chemicals *in addition to* the others. I'd go for compensation, personally.

 

[wtccheermom]

I lived in Army housing when I was pg for my second child that was eventually completely redone when we moved for high levels of lead in the paint. I am fine, husbnad is fine,daughter is fine, and so is the baby who is 3 now. I think you guys will be fine over a little spray that was in the laundry room a place that you don't spend much time in.

 

[Alesia]

Our family is the type that eats organic, uses all natural products, etc. I suppose more than our stuff being exposed to the chemicals, I'm mad about not being told so we could have at least opened our windows and left the house.

In the future, you might try cinnamon powder. We didn't use plain old cinnamon (not sure why not) but a powder from Home Depot. Worked a charm! I was pregnant and we had a cat and I had NO interest in chemicals, so we tried it and it worked.

I hate to tell you, but organic produce growers use pesticides, too. Some of them are actually more dangerous to humans than commercial pesticides. The most common one is animal manure, which is why people who eat organic produce are 8 times more likely to get e coli 0157: H7, which is deadly.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I hate to tell you, but organic produce growers use pesticides, too. Some of them are actually more dangerous to humans than commercial pesticides. The most common one is animal manure, which is why people who eat organic produce are 8 times more likely to get e coli 0157: H7, which is deadly.

LOL, you can't tell them THAT!

 

[Hannathy]

LOL, you can't tell them THAT!

yeah! don't go confusing the issue with FACTS!

 

[tlbwriter]

I would suggest having another place lined up before suing for compensation. That would probably be enough to piss off any landlord and start eviction proceedings.

Don't you have to have a reason to evict someone?

Anyway, I would probably tell the landlord that you don't appreciate her spraying without your legally required notification, and that you certainly hope it doesn't happen again, since you'd hate to invoke your right to compensation. Just to give her a heads-up since you think she may have done this deliberately.

 

[crashbb]

I hate to tell you, but organic produce growers use pesticides, too. Some of them are actually more dangerous to humans than commercial pesticides. The most common one is animal manure, which is why people who eat organic produce are 8 times more likely to get e coli 0157: H7, which is deadly.

Bumbershoot won't be back. She posts her "medical" pseudobabble and never comes back (because, you know, she might have to respond to those that point out that she is wrong).

BTW - I've looked up the Landlord and Tenant Act in BC. Although it clearly states that the landlord must maintain the common areas, nowhere does it state that they have to inform the tenant before they do so. The only cases I could find were landlords getting in trouble for not doing enough to combat the problem (more about bedbugs than I ever wanted to know).

Interestingly, the Canadian Pest Management Association was just (as in yesterday) made a stakeholder for the Residential Tenancy Branch (a neutral agency which provides information about legislation).

 

[Arielle22]

OP, I agree with the others that it is an overreaction, especially since you have no idea what procedure was done (spraying, gel) and what chemicals were used.

If you are concerned that is where I would start, asking the landlord what was done. Then do some research about the chemicals. Maybe it will give you piece of mind.

 

[wtccheermom]

Bumbershoot won't be back. She posts her "medical" pseudobabble and never comes back (because, you know, she might have to respond to those that point out that she is wrong).).

The evil HFCS is making you behave this way and post such nonsense!!!!!