Roosevelt Center    |    Linda DeGreeter    |    Elkhart    ,    Indiana 46516    Landlord Complaint 20-2170

I have lived in my apartment for 3 years. My rent has never been late, and I have not had any neighbor complaints. When a resident living across the hall from me moved out, I became infested with bed bugs. My landlords told me that it is isolated and I had no right to tell my neighbors, nor show them what a dead bed bug looked like. It was later discover both this tenants mother and cousin that live in my building were also infested. I waited 36 hours to have someone address the issue when I called. My 4 year old daughter Skye has asthma and she incurred an asthma attack that required hospitalization within 5 days of reporting the problem. I also had a child under one and 3 other children in my residence. I am a single mom, so trying to handle five children and preparing for a bed bug extermination took a tole on me mentally and physically. I was in the process of trying to move when my daughter became sick. My focus was on her and paperwork with my area housing authority laid packed away. I thought I had more time to file a lease extension for the next month, but I ran out which was my fault. However, given the circumstances, I feel there should be some slight exception for the situation. I feel it would be irresponsible to move without having my personal items re-examined for bed bugs. Futher I am disappointed that my daughters matresses had to be ripped open to treat for bed bugs and I would much like replacements as they were only a year old. My other daughter broke 2 bones in her arm last Sunday, but instead of my focus being on my sick and injured children I have been frantically packing my stuff and continuing to find dead bed bugs. I see them everywhere I go and I can barely sleep. This situation has been very troubling and due to the implied waranty of habitability, I expect them to pay all extermination fees and work with me on the problem until I move out. I have applied for another apartment and if I move out, I would like to do so in good standing with my landlords.