AboutOwen Ahearn Expertise I will be happy to answer property management questions for residential units (single-family, multi-family), commercial properties, condominium associations and industrial properties.
Experience Over twenty years of property management and asset management experience managing and maintaining a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Experienced managing single family homes, duplexes, triple-deckers, multi-plexes, housing developments, homeowner associations, residential condominium associations, commercial properties, industrial property, and raw land. 7 Years managing over 2000 units of public housing property (state elderly and family as well as federal elderly and family developments). Experienced with union contracts, grievances and negotiations.
Excellent management and computer skills, including wireless networking.
Organizations Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), National Association of Realtors (NAR)
Awards and Honors Certified Property Manager of the Year 2009 - Boston Chapter Number 4 of the Institute of Real Estate Management, Certified Property Manager of the Year 2008 - Boston Chapter Number 4 of the Institute of Real Estate Management
Past/Present Clients Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Department of Justice (USDOJ)
I moved into my apartment a few months ago in Orange County, California. After I moved in, I quickly realized that it was infested with fleas from the previous tenant. After I got rid of the fleas, I started getting tons of spiders and ants. The spiders have never calmed down but pale in comparison to the huge termite issue. The swarmer termites (big termites with wings) largely appear in the bathroom and come down through the roof from the light fixture. Apparently it is a complex wide problem because the people at the leasing office were not surprised nor alarmed that I regularly find over 200 half alive termites with wings in my bathroom. One of the leasers even told me that that happens to her apartment when it's hot and knew where they were coming from even before I said anything. Well, they've sprayed three times and continue to see wings and bugs drop daily. I find this absolutely disgusting and have almost completely halted using my bathroom. I only use it for very fast showers and always drive to somewhere else to use the toilet. I'm embarrassed to have anyone over so it has completely altered my way of life and dramatically lowered my quality of life. I want to break the lease and find something less disgusting but apparently I am responsible for the rest of the year. What can I do? Call the Health Department?
Answer There are a number of things that you should do to protect your rights as a tenant. First of all, all future correspondence with the landlord/management company should be in certified letter. You need to place the landlord on notice for them to correct the problem and give them a reasonable amount of time to address and resolve the matter. Your letter can also state that if the problem is not corrected, you will either contact an attorney for information on your rights, and/or withhold your rent in an escrow account until it is resolved. Please note that you should find out more about your individual laws as a tenant. Your local board of health can also be contacted regarding pest infestation.
Every state has different housing laws; I am sorry that we do not work in California, otherwise I would have more specific answers for your question.
If the landlord fails to act properly and remove the pests from your apartment; the Board of Health can cite the landlord and enforce the housing standards for your community/state.
Generally a certified letter to the owner/management company placing them on notice for lease violations leads them to correct the problem. The Board of Health is generally effective, but they would want to know that you've attempted to resolve the matter on your own first.
