Kenneth Reddan, Frank Martinez    |    Staten Island    ,    New York 10303    Landlord Complaint 23-0978

I heard noises above my room shortly after moving in. I moved in approximately Dec. 14, 2012. I heard scratching sound as if animal was digging into roof, with its claws. The noises persisted. Approximately Jan. 1, 2013, I addressed issue with the property manager, Mr. Frank Martinez. I told him squirrels were damaging roof of house. He laughed at my issue. The more I told him this was a serious issue, the more he laughed. I saw it was no use trying to talk to him about problem. I was telling him this more to protect landlord's property than myself. The noises grew louder over the next two weeks. I also could hear footsteps like a mediulm- sized animal instead of a squirrel. I realized that the animal was breaking the ceiling above my room. There is an attic above my room. This means that animal was already in the attic. I again approached the property manager, Mr. Frank Martinez. on an earlier occasion, I had asked to speak to the landlord, but Mr. Martinez din't answer my text message. By now I could hear the animal loudly because it was almost breaking through my ceiling. I could actually hear it tearing up pieces of wood from above my ceiling. This time Mr Martinez acknowledged seriousness of situation. The other tenant Chris, also heard noises above his ceiling. Mr. Martinez installed device designed to drive away animals by sound waves. I still heard animal that night . I could not sleep fearing animal might break through ceiling while I was sleeping. On Jan. 18, 2013, the next day I told Mr. Martinez that the sound device did not work. He told me the instructions for sound device said it could take two weeks to drive away animals. Because it was unsafe, and also because i was afraid to fall asleep their, I proposed to him that I move to hotel until animal was removed. I would deduct cost of hotel bills from rent. He said i couldn't deduct cost of hotel bills from rent. I said I have no other choice . He said he would evict me immediately.