Jan 15, 2026
When Largo, Fla., resident Patricia Shields reportedly endured multiple spider bites inside her apartment — and later serious infections that led to the amputation of two toes — she says the property management repeatedly ignored her pleas for help.
According to 10 Tampa Bay News, Shields claims she alerted Grand Oak Apartments to a suspected infestation and growing health problems, only to be dismissed and ultimately denied release from her lease, which prompted her to file a lawsuit against the complex and related parties (1).
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Her story highlights how quickly pest-related health issues can escalate into major financial and physical hardships, and how misunderstood tenant protections and responsibilities often are.
When pests become an alleged health issue, landlords and tenants tread tricky ground
Across the U.S., spiders live alongside humans without posing a serious danger. Most spider bites are minor and heal within days. Only certain species — like brown recluse or black widow — can cause severe symptoms (2). Many sores people believe stem from spider bites may actually stem from other issues, such as bacterial skin infections (3).
So, landlords often dispute alleged spider bites. That's why proof is crucial.
In this alleged case, the physical and emotional toll was extreme. But even without such a severe outcome, bites that lead to infections, medical care, time off work, hotel stays or relocation could become costly, especially if a landlord disputes the cause or refuses to act.
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What Florida law says about landlord responsibilities
In Florida, landlords have a statutory duty to maintain rental units in habitable condition. Under Florida Statute 83.51, owners must comply with applicable building, housing and health codes — or, if no codes apply, keep roofs, walls, floors, plumbing and "all other structural components" in reasonable working order.
For multi-unit buildings, this obligation explicitly includes taking “reasonable provisions” to control various pests, including insects and rodents, although spiders aren’t listed by name (4).
However, statutes don’t spell out every scenario. Many landlords argue that treating for spiders (especially smaller nuisance species) isn’t required unless local housing codes specify it. That puts the burden on tenants to demonstrate that the problem is serious and poses a danger to health.
Why documentation matters, and what tenants often miss
Most lease agreements in Florida include an implied warranty of habitability — the landlord’s duty to provide a livable space — but enforcing that in practice isn’t always straightforward (5).
It would be helpful for tenants to have:
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- Written notices to the landlord describing the condition and requesting action (6).
- Clear documentation, including photos, medical records, pest control logs and communication history.
- Health records linking injuries or infections to their living conditions, such as doctors’ notes, urgent care bills or test results.
Without these, it will be easier for landlords to challenge tenants’ claims, as Grand Oak reportedly has in court filings (1).
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The financial fallout renters may not anticipate
Medical bills from skin problems can be significant, especially when multiple treatments, wound care, antibiotics or even surgery are needed. Add lost wages from missed work, unscheduled doctor visits or specialist consultations, and the costs climb quickly.
Temporary lodging or relocation adds another layer of complexity. If a rental unit is unsafe or uninhabitable, some renters' insurance policies include a “loss of use” or additional living expenses provision, which helps pay for hotel costs, meals and other extra expenses while you’re displaced.
But that coverage only kicks in if you have renters' insurance in the first place — and you carefully document all additional costs, and the insurer deems the situation to be covered under the policy.
Most renters' policies don't cover your base rent (only expenses incurred on top of it), or structural repairs, which remain the landlord’s responsibility (7). And critically, insurance doesn’t address the infestations or habitability issues directly; it only helps with the financial fallout (8).
How renters can protect themselves before problems snowball
If Shields’s ordeal offers one clear lesson, it’s that renters need to be proactive. You can protect yourself by:
- Reading and understanding your lease with respect to repairs and maintenance expectations.
- Documenting everything early, with dated photos of problems, all correspondence with landlords and medical records if health issues arise.
- Sending written requests (email or certified mail) asking for repairs or pest control as soon as a problem arises.
- Knowing your local and state housing codes. A tenant advocacy group or local housing authority can often clarify what's legally required.
- Considering renters' insurance, which doesn’t cover every loss, but can help manage relocation and medical costs tied to your unit becoming unlivable.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
10 Tampa Bay News (1); Mayo Clinic (2); CDC (3); Florida Statutes (4); Legal Clarity (5); Legal Clarity (6); Progressive (7); Experian (8)
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With a writing and editing career spanning over 13 years, Emma creates and refines content across a broad spectrum of industries, including personal finance, lifestyle, travel, health & wellness, real estate, beauty & fitness and B2B/SaaS/tech. Her versatility comes through contributions to high-profile clients like Moneywise, Healthline, Narcity and Bob Vila, producing content that informs and engages, along with helping book authors tell their stories.
