Tenants at Parkview Apartments on Milwaukee’s northwest side say what they describe as unusually large rats are tearing up the property, digging deep holes around porches and across lawns, and making some residents too nervous to sit outside. Maria Gorins, who moved into her unit in November, says the burrows have steadily widened over the past few months and that most sightings happen overnight or in the early morning. Neighbors report rodents darting between bushes and through the parking areas, and several tenants say repeated maintenance requests have not led to a lasting fix. Residents say they want visible, ongoing pest control across the complex rather than occasional traps or poison that appears only here and there.
Residents Describe Nightly Activity And Management’s Response
As reported by FOX6 Milwaukee, Gorins told the station, "I don’t come out of my house. I should be able to come out and sit on my porch," adding that the holes at her building "keep getting bigger and deeper." According to FOX6, several neighbors say they see the rodents mostly at night and in the early morning, which lines up with what residents have been telling each other in hallway conversations and text chains.
FOX6 reported that the station reached out to the property manager, Appleton Home Rentals, and had not received a response at the time of publication. Tenants say they have logged complaints through the online maintenance portal and by phone, yet feel the problem is still very much alive and scratching. The lack of clear communication from management has left some renters worried about safety and sanitation as spring approaches and more people want to use porches, yards and common areas.
Where Parkview Is And Who Runs It
Parkview is listed at 5166–5174 N. Lovers Lane Road in Milwaukee’s 53225 ZIP code, according to rental listings. Apartments.com shows a garden-style complex with a range of unit sizes and an on-site office for tours and leasing. Property manager Appleton Rental Homes lists a Milwaukee office and an online tenant portal for maintenance requests on its site.
Several residents say they have used that portal and contacted the leasing office about the rat burrows, but they have not seen sustained work to seal the holes or treat the grounds at scale. For tenants, the gap between what is advertised on paper and the reality of dodging rodents on the lawn has become a growing source of frustration.
What The City Can Do, And What It Does
The City of Milwaukee’s Department of Neighborhood Services inspects suspected rat harborage and can order property owners to abate an infestation or hire an exterminator, with inspectors returning after seven days to recheck conditions, according to the department’s pest control guidance. The City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services also notes that if owners do not comply, the department may place bait itself and eventually add abatement costs to the owner’s tax bill.
The city guidance includes a downloadable rat brochure with prevention tips such as sealing foundation cracks and removing food sources from yards. Tenants who believe management is not acting on a problem can file a complaint with the Department of Neighborhood Services or contact the city’s unified call center to request an inspection. For Parkview residents, those steps are starting to look less like a last resort and more like the next logical move.
Citywide Rat Surge And Why Parkview Residents Worry
Rats are not just a Parkview problem. Milwaukee Magazine reported that city crews handled roughly 1,160 rat calls in 2023, an uptick from the year before that has been tied to ongoing construction and plentiful food sources. The magazine cites pest control professionals who say major construction projects can displace rodents, while poor sanitation makes certain neighborhoods more attractive to them.
Residents at Parkview say the rat burrows are expanding around their buildings and that they fear temporary fixes will not stop a larger infestation from taking hold. Community advocates say coordinated work between landlords and the city is the only reliable path to long-term control, since sporadic efforts on a single property tend to push the animals a few yards over rather than eliminate them.
For now, tenants at Parkview say they want a clear abatement plan, regular maintenance visits and better communication from Appleton Rental Homes and city officials about what is being done. Some residents say they are documenting burrows and sightings and plan to pursue city inspections if management does not provide a sustained response. The Department of Neighborhood Services lays out its enforcement steps on its website, but residents say they want to see those steps applied in real time at Parkview. If the situation remains unchanged as temperatures rise, tenants worry the problem could worsen and spread into neighboring yards and even vehicles.
