CHICAGO, IL – A Chicago tenant says a long-standing rodent infestation in his Rogers Park apartment complex escalated into a nightmare when he woke up to a rat chewing on his face.
The Late-Night Attack
Heriverto Hernandez, a garden-level apartment resident, reported that the incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. after he fell asleep following a long workday. Hernandez stated he felt something scurrying across his face, woke up, and immediately threw the rodent off.
Following the attack, Hernandez required urgent medical attention, which included antibiotics and a rabies shot. He sustained multiple cuts to his forehead and his eye remains severely irritated and swollen.
Tenant Union Demands Action
Hernandez is a member of Fuerzas Activas de la Damen, a tenant union affiliated with the All-Chicago Tenant Alliance. The union claims that multiple units within the building have been plagued by severe infestations of both rats and cockroaches for months, alleging that building management has failed to adequately resolve basic maintenance issues.
Legal representatives for the tenants emphasized that a landlord’s legal responsibility to maintain safe and habitable living conditions remains absolute, regardless of any ongoing disputes.
Management Responds Amid Eviction Dispute
ARK Management, the company managing the property, released a statement confirming they take tenant health and safety seriously. However, they provided a different perspective on the ongoing situation:
- Investments: The company states it has invested over $1.5 million into building improvements and rehabilitated more than 20 units since March 2025.
- Legal Proceedings: Management claimed Hernandez is currently facing eviction after failing to pay rent for eight months.
- Relocation Offers: The company stated they made multiple attempts to relocate Hernandez to a newly renovated unit, but those offers were rejected.
Management added that communication barriers with certain tenants have created unnecessary delays and obstacles to resolving maintenance issues promptly.
