<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4cUWQ1_0um8ro7n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4cUWQ1_0um8ro7n00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ZTZyO_0um8ro7n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ZTZyO_0um8ro7n00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure>Rats on Royal Drive! That's what a Madison woman claims her old apartment was infested with, while her landlord looked the other way.It's really a disgusting thought. Rats running through your home. Well, Shamere Denson says that was her reality each and every day for almost a year.Denson says this all happened while she and her four kids lived in a 140 on Royal apartment. She says she'd find four to five rats in her home every day since September 2023.Denson says she tried everything to get rid of these rats, and that started with telling her landlord. She claims her landlord sent a pest control specialist, but that specialist did not help.She says she stayed on top of this issue every month, but saw no further action. The rats kept coming.Denson would pay $1,250 a month. She wants management to do better."We pay a lot of rent and we should, it should be more livable for us you know, in comfortable spaces instead of having to go through that everyday," Denson said.Denson finally had enough and moved out in June this year."I just didn't want mice in my home, especially with my kids being there because they carry diseases and it's just nasty," Denson said.When one lawyer, Heath Brooks, heard about this, he said Denson and anyone else renting right now, should look into their renter rights."Rats in your home is an emergency," Brooks explained. "So, you need to write to your landlord, and give them 14 days to correct the problem. And then, your options are if the landlord doesn't make a repair after those 14 days, then you can terminate your lease."He says these legal rights fall under the Alabama Landlord Tenant Act. He says you can also get your security deposit back, and these rules apply to other infestations like mold and bugs."So, let's say, these rats tore up your clothes or these rats ruined a piece of furniture, then you may be able to get those costs back from your landlord," Brooks said.He says all landlords need to comply with Alabama law."The landlord needs to provide a safe environment for their tenants, otherwise you're a slumlord," Brooks said.WAAY 31 reached out to the apartment manager at 140 on Royal. That manager gave us a call back last week, but when we told her about the rat situation and Denson's claims, she told us she had not heard of this issue before.We emailed that manager again twice this week and left voicemails. She did not respond.Still, the emails Denson showed us are with that same manager. You can find those emails in this story.Brooks says if you're in a similar situation to Denson, you should contact a lawyer or the Department of Public Health immediately.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3GqOLf_0um8ro7n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3GqOLf_0um8ro7n00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Shamere Denson says she'd find four to five rats in her 140 on Royal apartment&nbsp;every day for almost a year! Courtesy Shamere Denson</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Nfu50_0um8ro7n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Nfu50_0um8ro7n00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Denson claims she emailed the apartment manager at 140 on Royal multiple times. This is another one of those emails. Courtesy Shamere Denson</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3X6k1x_0um8ro7n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3X6k1x_0um8ro7n00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Denson claims she emailed the apartment manager at 140 on Royal multiple times. This is one of those emails. Courtesy Shamere Denson</figcaption></figure></div></body>

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'I just didn't want mice in my home': Madison woman claims apartment complex is infested with rats

Rats on Royal Drive! That's what a Madison woman claims her old apartment was infested with, while her landlord looked the other way. It's really a disgusting thought. Rats running through your home. Well, Shamere Denson says that was her reality each and every day for almost a year. Denson...