A mother is demanding action after she says a mouse infestation made her Hartford apartment unlivable, forcing her and her four children to relocate to temporary housing.
Allison Bridges says she and her children have been dealing with mice inside their apartment on Bellevue Street in Hartford since July. Photos and videos she took show mice she either trapped or found in her bed.
“It’s been a nightmare here. My kids aren’t comfortable. I’m not comfortable,” Bridges said.
She says the infestation has created unsafe and unsanitary living conditions for her family.
“You can’t walk anywhere without tripping or squishing one. It’s really bad,” she said.
Bridges said she and her children have also experienced physical symptoms that she believes are connected to the infestation.
“We do have bite marks, and our body has been breaking out from it. It’s a nasty environment,” she said.
After struggling to get a response from her landlord, Bridges contacted the city of Hartford. City inspectors visited the apartment Tuesday and found evidence of mice, posting a notice on the front door.
Bridges said she repeatedly tried to reach her landlord about the conditions inside the apartment but went weeks without hearing back.
“I’ve tried contacting him for over a month. For the whole month August, I didn’t have contact with him from the whole month of August 2 until September 19,” she said.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said he was appalled by the conditions described by Bridges and that the city is taking steps to address the infestation.
“No one should be living in those conditions, especially in the capital city of the wealthiest state and wealthiest country in the history of the world,” Arulampalam said.
According to the mayor, the city has already instructed the landlord to hire a licensed exterminator. If the issue is not addressed, the city could escalate enforcement by issuing a notice of violation.
Arulampalam said the city also has legal tools, including fines and property liens, to hold landlords accountable for substandard housing conditions.
“We will post notices. We will put liens on properties in which landlords hold their properties in substandard conditions and work to enforce those liens,” he said.
NBC Connecticut contacted the property owner, Gilberto Barahona, who said he plans to bring in a licensed exterminator next week to address the mice problem.
Barahona confirmed that the city contacted him and said he is working with officials to resolve the issue. He also said the two other tenants in the building have not reported similar complaints.
In the meantime, Bridges and her four children have been relocated by the city to a motel and have since moved into a larger hotel room for a month.
Bridges says she wants city officials to continue monitoring the situation until the infestation is fully resolved.
“They need to be held accountable and follow through until the end. Make sure the problem is actually fixed,” she said.
Arulampalam said Hartford residents experiencing housing problems can contact the city’s tenant liaison through 311 or online for assistance.
“We believe that everyone deserves safe and dignified housing and if you are not getting that, reach out to the city, we will do something about it,” he said.
