Florida woman sues apartment management for spider bites she claims left her with infections, amputated toes. How renters can prevent swelling costs

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.

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:

• 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).

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.