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Rats and Rodents · California Tenant Rights

Can I sue my landlord over a rat or mouse infestation?

When rodents can support a legal claim

You may be able to sue your landlord over a rodent infestation if it was serious, made your home unsafe or unhealthy, and your landlord failed to properly address it after you reported it.

A significant rat or mouse infestation that a landlord ignores can breach the implied warranty of habitability and cause real harm — contaminated food, damaged property, gnawed wiring, and health risks from droppings and urine. Whether you have a strong claim depends on the facts: how bad the infestation was, whether the landlord knew, what they did about it, and how it affected you and your household.

No attorney can promise an outcome without reviewing the details, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. A free, confidential review is the best way to find out where you stand — we do not charge to tell you honestly whether you have a case.

This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.

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