Roaches can spread through shared walls, plumbing openings, cabinets and neighboring units. Good evidence should show both infestation activity and that the tenant kept the affected area reasonably clean.

Your goal is not to create dramatic evidence. Your goal is to create believable evidence showing what happened, where it happened, when it happened, how often it happened, and when the landlord was told.

Document safely first

Use pesticides only according to the label and keep products away from children and pets. Do not combine chemicals or use agricultural/outdoor pesticides indoors.

Capture the condition clearly

  1. Start wide. Take one photo that identifies the room, wall, fixture, doorway, appliance, common area or other location.
  2. Move closer. Take medium and close images showing the specific defect. Use a ruler, thermometer, clock, work-order screen or other ordinary reference only when it helps explain the condition.
  3. Use video for movement, sound or recurrence. Leaks, flickering, pests, failed locks, alarms and repeated system failures are often easier to understand on a short video than in a still photo.
  4. Clean counters, sinks and floors before documenting so the landlord cannot easily blame ordinary clutter or food debris.
  5. For kitchen activity, a useful method is to enter after lights have been off, turn the lights on and immediately photograph or video roaches on clean surfaces.
  6. Photograph droppings, egg cases, dead roaches, glue traps and locations where activity is concentrated.
  7. Keep pest-control invoices, treatment notices and a dated log showing activity before and after each treatment.
  8. Send written notice. State the problem, exact location, when it began, whether it is getting worse, and what repair or action you are requesting. Save proof of delivery.
  9. Build one timeline. Put photos, work orders, management replies, inspection dates, receipts and third-party reports in date order. That timeline can become the backbone of a code complaint, legal-aid intake or RentalFacts listing.

Make your evidence harder to attack

Keep the affected area reasonably clean when cleanliness is relevant to the dispute. Do not stage damage, exaggerate symptoms, edit images in a misleading way, or provoke a neighbor or employee just to get a reaction on camera. Preserve original files whenever possible.

RentalFacts tip: A strong public report should separate what you personally observed from what an inspector, technician, doctor, neighbor or government agency reported.