Dear Brian,

I have OCD when it comes to being clean, especially in my apartment…to the point where I do not allow walking in the house with shoes on, for it tracks dirt (and I do not have kids)….
 
I have a neighbor down the hall from me… and he is DIRTY!!!  To the point that when I go to the mailbox to get mail and he happens to come out of his apartment to walk his dog, the stench that comes out of his apartment makes the hallway smell forever!  We had another neighbor call the landlord to explain her concern about the smell and she bought air freshener for the hall…..
 
So, 2 nights ago I was working at my desk (which faces the window) and I hear his girlfriend saying “I cannot believe we have so many mice in our apartment”. I almost spat out what I was eating! I have never had any issues with mice or roaches and I have been there 3.5 years… for a pre-war building in Manhattan that says something…  well now I am freaking out that as a result of their way of life I will start getting mice/roaches in my own apartment.
 
Is there anything I can do? 
For example… call the landlord?  Or is this one of those things that I will have to just hope gets fixed on its own? 

_Samantha, NY 

Dear Samantha,

You should hope that he keeps the place a mess. The mice will stay in his place.  If you do ever have a problem just notify the property manager and keep track of your complaints in writing.

Hope this was helpful,

Brian.