Landlord Didn't Seal Rat Burrows

DOHMH issued a violation notice to landlord for failing to eliminate a rat harborage condition. The agency inspector found rat burrows in front of the building. Landlord claimed that it had placed rat poison at the building and that the condition was caused by neighboring restaurants on the busy commercial block. Landlord also blamed conditions on DOHMH, which had substantially cut back the number of pest control employees, and on DOS, which permitted garbage to be placed out for collection in plastic bags instead of cans. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined it $300. Landlord appealed and lost. Although it showed that it purchased rat poison and bait traps, landlord didn't mention any measures taken to seal the rat burrows in front of its building.

332 W. 46 St. Holding LLC: ECB App. No. 1200198 (5/31/12) [4-pg. doc.]