My name is Amanda, I am 29 years old and I am a single mom of a
four year old little girl named Peyton. Our run of bad luck
started the beginning of this year in January. We moved into
what we thought was a cute little 2 bedroom duplex with a yard
so she could play outside. We have always lived in an apartment
so we were really excited. When we moved in Jan 21st I noticed
there was no thermostat to turn the heater on. I called the
landlords and they took almost two months to get a new
thermostat installed, since the last had been covered up. After
that the rain started and we had a leaky roof in Peyton’s room
and in the living room. I called the landlords and they came
over, they swept the water off the roof and laid plastic down.
I thought they were going to come back when it was dry, but they
never did. In March, I informed them of the growing cockroach
infestation. They said to buy gel and apply it. So I did, it
was not affective and the problem got worse with the heat. By
the end of May I noticed mice under the sink in the kitchen.
I called the landlords and they never called me back. So, in
the beginning of June I wrote a letter requesting that they
correct both infestations. They still did nothing. So I called
the San Diego Health Department and the division of food and
housing wrote them a letter telling them they had 30 days to
correct the problem. They still did nothing. Peyton was afraid
to go to the bathroom because she thought the “buggies” would
get her. At night when I would put her to bed, she would
position herself in the middle of the bed so she did not touch
any walls because of the “buggies”. I couldn’t allow myself to
keep my daughter in this situation anymore so I decided to move.
With this move, I had to sell my car so that we had enough money
to pay both rents that month. I did not have enough money for
the security deposit so I took a second job and the new landlord
is allowing me to make weekly one hundred dollar payments to pay
it off.
When I sent my prior landlords the demand for my deposit refund,
they sent me a bunch of pictures from I don’t know where and
said that I owe then $3,248.33. They say that $2,000 of it is
for paint. I did not cause any damage; I have video tape of the
cockroach infestation and the mice infestation. I also took
video of how I left the unit. So I was left with no choice but
to file a claim in small claims court, upon them receiving the
paperwork from the court, they filed a counter suit and added
another $1000, and did not explain what that was for.
They are doing all this out of retaliation because I called the
health department which is against the law and is stated so in
the California tenant rights handbook. I don’t know what I am
going to do because I have no money left over after paying rent
and bills and the weekly deposit arrangement. I either take a
cab to work which is costly, or I give my best friend money to
give me a ride. I need help.
Peyton starts school in two weeks and I have no way of buying
her school clothes. She has just about grown out of everything
and the only things that fit her are summer clothes. Her dad is
no where to be found to collect child support, and my family is
not in a situation where they can help me. I don't know what I
am going to do, or how I am going to buy her winter clothes this
year. Since my little girl is the oldest out of all of my
friends kids, there are no hand me downs to ask for.
We are the ones who usually hand down the clothes. I just don’t
know what I am going to do.
Sincerely, Amanda S., a very desperate mom San Diego, California
