[Edaily Reporter KIM EUN KYOUNG ] “The cockroaches have spread to other units—what if the same thing happens after I move?”

Earlier this month, a Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) “Happy Housing” complex in Guro-gu, Seoul, was thrown into turmoil over a cockroach infestation. As complaints poured in that cockroaches originating from a specific unit had spread to neighboring units, the situation escalated from multiple pest control efforts to the issuance of an eviction notice.

Ultimately, the residents of that unit agreed to move out voluntarily but are now seeking to relocate to another public rental housing unit. Critics point out that while it is difficult to enforce eviction even when neighbors suffer due to a tenant’s failure to maintain their unit, and given the possibility that the same problem could recur in another public rental housing unit, this incident highlights the limitations of hygiene management in public rental housing.

According to a notice posted on the 9th by an LH public rental housing management center, a specific household was identified as the source of a cockroach infestation, leading to a series of complaints from residents. While the household in question acknowledged the cockroach problem, the management center conducted multiple pest control treatments and obtained a written pledge from the household stating they would vacate if the cockroaches were not eradicated. The management center then notified the residents of these developments.

Subsequently, the management center announced in a follow-up notice that the “household responsible for the cockroach infestation” had decided to move out voluntarily. It was reported that the household plans to apply for a Seoul Housing & Urban Development Corporation (SH) purchase-to-rent unit this coming December and is also looking into the possibility of moving to an LH purchase-to-rent unit before then.

The problem lies in what happens after they move out. Even if the household moves into another public rental housing unit, new neighbors could suffer similar problems if the existing sanitation issues are not resolved. However, it is not easy to forcibly evict a tenant who has caused sanitation problems.

The government has established disciplinary regulations to maintain order in public rental housing communities. The Standard Lease Agreement for Public Rental Housing, revised last August, prohibits acts that cause harm to neighbors—such as the unauthorized dumping or accumulation of trash and foul odors—and allows for the refusal of lease renewal in the event of a violation.

The problem is that it is difficult to terminate a lease during the contract period based solely on violations of communal living standards. Under current law, long-term rent arrears, unauthorized subletting, and intentional damage to the property are grounds for termination, but in cases of sanitation issues, there are limitations on taking immediate eviction measures. This is the dilemma of public rental housing: while the living environment of other residents must be protected, the right to housing of the resident causing the problem must also be considered.

An LH official stated, “Even if the management agency takes continuous action, there are limits if the residents themselves do not take care of their housing,” adding, “It’s not feasible to visit the site every day to manage it.”

The official continued, “Since rental housing is not owned by the residents, there are cases where maintenance is neglected, and public agencies sometimes step in to make repairs when complaints arise,” explaining, “It is also a difficult question to determine to what extent we should support maintenance and repairs.”

To resolve these issues, measures to strengthen penalties—such as allowing for eviction even during the lease term—may be considered. However, if the criteria for determining unsanitary conditions remain vague, there is a risk that such measures could be exploited to fuel conflicts among residents or used as a means to pressure vulnerable groups into eviction.

An LH official stated, “Since public rental housing is home to people facing housing difficulties for various reasons, we cannot simply evict them just because a problem arises,” adding, “There is a dilemma in that we must also consider their housing situation after forced eviction.”