'I felt them on my face': Rogers Park tenant says rats chewed on him while he slept
Rogers Park tenant says rats bit his face while he slept
Imagine waking up to rats chewing on your face. That's what happened to a Rogers Park man. He says he's been dealing with a rodent problem for months now. We spoke with him this morning about what he says has been a traumatizing experience.
CHICAGO - A Rogers Park tenant says he woke up in the middle of the night to a rat chewing on his face after months of dealing with a rodent infestation inside his apartment.
Heriverto Hernandez said the incident happened about three weeks ago in his garden-level apartment on Damen Avenue. He said he had fallen asleep after a long day at work when he felt something on his face around 3 a.m.
"I felt them on my face and threw them off my face," Hernandez said.
Hernandez said he suffered facial injuries and later sought medical treatment, including a rabies shot. He said his eye remains irritated, and he continues to recover.
The backstory:
The tenant alleges rats have been a persistent problem in his apartment for months. He claims he has repeatedly reported the issue but that neither the management company nor the property’s owners have fully resolved the infestation.
The conditions inside the unit were severe enough that FOX Chicago conducted its interview with Hernandez outside the building.
Hernandez is one of more than 60 tenants who belong to Fuerzas Activas de la Damen, a tenant union affiliated with the All-Chicago Tenant Alliance. Union members have been engaged in an ongoing dispute with building ownership over rent increases, eviction proceedings and building conditions.
In a news release, the tenant union alleged that rats and cockroaches have continued to plague multiple units and that maintenance concerns have gone unaddressed.
The union also claims ownership has filed lawsuits against tenants and organizers in response to their organizing efforts. Organizers argue the legal actions are intended to discourage tenant advocacy, an allegation ownership has disputed in court filings.
Jake Marshall-Braun, an attorney with Beyond Legal Aid representing tenants in ongoing litigation, said landlords remain responsible for maintaining safe living conditions regardless of whether tenants are behind on rent or involved in eviction proceedings.
"A landlord’s responsibility to maintain their building does not end when a tenant is behind on rent or is in eviction proceedings," Marshall-Braun said in a statement.
The other side:
A maintenance contractor familiar with the property told FOX Chicago that ownership has been working to address pest issues. The contractor said some residents have struggled to maintain cleanliness in their units and suggested complaints have intensified following rent increases.
FOX Chicago reached out to Rogers Park Apartments, Rogers Park 1 Holdings LLC and attorney Imran Khan for comment.
In a statement, the company said:
"Since acquiring this property in March 2025, ARK Management has invested more than $1.5 million into capital improvements and has fully rehabilitated more than 20 apartment units. Our objective has been to improve the building, address longstanding issues, and provide safe, quality housing for our residents.
The greatest challenge we have faced in accomplishing that goal has been our inability to communicate and work directly with certain tenants. In our experience, a third-party tenant union has inserted itself between management and residents, insisting that communications, repair requests, and negotiations be routed through the union and its attorney rather than directly between management and tenants. We believe this has created unnecessary delays, misunderstandings, and obstacles to resolving maintenance issues promptly.
ARK Management has consistently responded to requests made through the channels presented to us. We have complied with requests for inspections, addressed maintenance concerns when access was available, coordinated with the City of Chicago, and continued making substantial investments in the property. Our frustration is not with addressing legitimate tenant concerns—we welcome that responsibility—but with a process that, in our view, has prevented us from working directly and efficiently with our residents.
With respect to Mr. Hernandez, he is currently a tenant in an ongoing eviction proceeding and has not paid rent for approximately eight months. He is represented by counsel. We have made multiple offers to relocate him into one of our newly renovated apartments within the building at our expense, but he has declined those offers and has remained in his current unit.
We also take any allegation regarding tenant health and safety extremely seriously. However, our ability to investigate reported conditions and complete repairs depends upon receiving notice and obtaining access to the unit. When communications and access are filtered through third parties rather than occurring directly between management and tenants, the process becomes significantly more difficult.
Our commitment remains the same today as it was when we acquired the property: to improve the building, comply with all applicable laws and city requirements, and provide safe housing for every resident. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you on site so you can see firsthand the extensive improvements that have been made and discuss the challenges we continue to face in managing the property."
What's next:
Hernandez said he is seeking compensation for his medical expenses and wants building conditions improved for all residents.
The tenant union says it plans to continue its efforts until it reaches what it considers a fair agreement with ownership.
The Source: This story contains reporting from Fox Chicago's Leslie Moreno.