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My Landlord Wants To Charge Me For "unauthorized Wildlife Damage" After A Raccoon Got Into The Attic

Location: Oregon

So I'm renting a small duplex. Last week around midnight I heard scratching above my bedroom and thought it was just pipes. Next morning my neighbor texts me a video of a raccoon literally climbing out through a loose attic vent on my side of the roof. I told my landlord right away and he sent a maintenance guy. They confirmed the vent cover had rusted out and the raccoon probably pushed it the rest of the way.

Today I get an email with a bill estimate for repairs: 480 dollars for "removal, sanitation, and structural patching". The note says I’m responsible because "tenant failed to secure area against wildlife intrusion". I have zero idea how I'm supposed to secure a roof vent I can't even reach, and the lease only mentions keeping trash sealed and not feeding animals. I never left food outside, and nothing inside the house was touched. This was all in the attic that I dont even have access to.

I wrote back asking how this could be my responsibility and landlord replied that "state law allows charging tenants for preventable damage". I feel like a rusted vent on the roof is not something I control, but I could be wrong. Am I actually legally on the hook for this or should I push back.

submitted by /u/CorianderVale
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My Landlord Wants To Charge Me For "unauthorized Wildlife Damage" After A Raccoon Got Into The Attic

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