ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — It’s been nine days since Eyewitness News first reported about a rat-infested home in Orange County. Since our story aired, the home has been condemned. But neighbors said rats are still getting in their yards and homes.
One neighbor told Eyewitness News that he think it’s a health hazard.
“The rats are everywhere,” said Ross McCoy.
Officials with Orange County Code Enforcement told Channel 9's Cuthbert Langley that it's likely the home will be demolished.
The county will hold a hearing with the homeowner in January. Following the hearing, the homeowner will have 30 days to bring the home up to code.
McCoy said he’s spending hundreds of dollars to protect his home from the rats after one got in this weekend.
“We're washing everything we own because there was a rat in our house, in our kitchen,” McCoy said.
We are back @ the Orange Co. home that was condemned last Wed. Today we found a new notice. What's next? We're working to answer that. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/WTf4yYKv8f
— Cuthbert Langley (@CuthbertLangley) November 16, 2016
Officials with code enforcement said because of the health and safety concerns of neighbors, the home might be demolished but not until March at the earliest.
Eyewitness News asked the county to explain why the neighbors have to deal with the rats for at least another four months and a spokesperson said it's to give the homeowner due process.
“It's costing us money. It's costing us time, and it's costing us health and happiness,” McCoy said.
Neighbors fed up with rat-infested, smelly home in Orlando neighborhood
Cox Media Group
