Kalimah Al-Hamid says her Longwood apartment has turned into a nightly battleground with rodents and that she now feels “like a prisoner” inside her own home. She told reporters she has lived in the building for 26 years, is catching three to four rodents every night and is undergoing weekly treatment for blood cancer. Her son, who has autism, and other relatives are losing sleep and living in fear, she says, as the animals climb onto beds and into pantries.
Landlord Points To Recent Exterminator Visit
As reported by News 12 Bronx, Al-Hamid says the infestation has dragged on for more than a decade and that the station’s cameras were in her apartment 14 years ago for the same problem. Wavecrest Management told the outlet that its “third-party exterminator sealed and treated the areas of the apartment that were accessible” on July 9 and said it contacts its contractor “immediately” whenever it is alerted to vermin.
City Data Shows Rodent Pressure Across The Boroughs
Independent analysis of official city data counts 42,808 rodent-related 311 reports across New York City from January 2025 through June 25, 2026, with roughly 6,951 of those calls coming from the Bronx. A report by NYC Rodent Report notes that seasonal surges and tightly clustered hotspots help explain why tenants often describe infestations as long-term problems rather than one-off sightings.
Health Concerns For Immunocompromised New Yorkers
Health officials warn that living with an ongoing rodent infestation is especially risky for people with weakened immune systems. According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, infections such as hantaviruses and leptospirosis can be spread through contact with rodent urine, droppings or saliva. The agency advises residents to seal entry points, safely sanitize droppings and call a pest control professional.
How Tenants Can Push For Action
Tenants who see rats are urged to file a complaint through NYC 311, which can trigger an inspection and provide documentation of the problem. A 2021 audit by the New York City Comptroller found gaps in the Health Department’s follow-up when property owners fail to fix recurring infestations, a shortfall that can leave tenants waiting for meaningful cleanup.
Neighbors Say They Have Seen This Movie Before
Al-Hamid’s story tracks with other accounts from Bronx residents who say stopgap repairs and slow maintenance have left them stuck with rats. In Concourse Village, tenants described rodents racing across stoves, chewing through stored food and lingering despite repeated calls to building management and city agencies, as detailed in a report on how rats have seized her Concourse Village apartment.
Tenant Presses For Relocation, Not More Quick Fixes
Al-Hamid says she has asked Wavecrest for a new apartment and a fresh start for her family while the infestation is fully addressed, according to News 12 Bronx. She says Wavecrest’s earlier statement that an exterminator treated accessible areas is not enough and that she is continuing to push for relocation as she undergoes cancer treatment and her family copes with sleepless nights.
