San Mateo Families Fight Eviction While Coping With Rats, Filth
SAN MATEO (CBS SF) -- Some Peninsula families on Friday were fighting eviction to stay in their San Mateo homes, even though they say they're dealing with rats, filth, mold problems and more.
Jaime Delgadillo told KPIX 5 the rats that ate out of the trash bins by his patio would make their way into his place every night as he, his wife and three small children tried to sleep.
"And we still have a lot of rats inside," said Delgadillo.
On Friday, San Mateo City Councilmember David Lim stood by Delgadillo and several other families who say they're going through the same experience.
"It's conditions where I don't think any family should have to live in," said Lim.
The residents are accusing their landlord -- Heritage Realty -- of being slumlords. They claim the company is trying to evict them out of retaliation after the tenants asked for problems to be fixed.
"He wasn't asking for a palace. He wasn't asking for a $10,000 carpet," said Lim. "He was asking for basic fundamental rights."
Speaking in Spanish, Angel Gutierrez told KPIX 5 Heritage Realty is also kicking him out this Sunday, even after he told them he'd paid for repairs when they refused.
"My kids [are] sick very often and the answer from them was 60-day notice," said Delgadillo.
He works as a janitor for the San Francisco Unified School District. Delgadillo says his family not only dealt with rats, But also mold, a refrigerator that was broken for six months and electrical issues.
Delgadillo and his family must move out by the beginning of August.
"His eviction notice simply says you have to be out within 60 days and, you know, it sounds like retaliation," said Lim.
KPIX 5 called heritage realty for a response and are still waiting to hear back. Lim says there's an initiative on the November ballot that will allow San Mateo residents to vote to make landlords give a reason when they evict someone.
The families facing eviction told KPIX 5 that -- as far as their search for a new home -- they can't find anything affordable.
