I've found some roaches in the kitchen of my rental apartment.  What's
the best way to get rid of them (that is, what should I ask the
landlord to do)?

Hi there,

Our search returned the following results:

This is probably the only site you will need to answer your question.
It contains detailed information on how to detect roaches and the
options available to eliminate them:
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/pests/pests2.html

While this next link is directed to students at UCSD, the same
principles apply. There is some information on cleaning to prevent
roaches:
http://blink.ucsd.edu/Blink/External/Topics/Policy/0,1162,4060,00.html?delivery=&coming_from=

Here is another approach to ridding your place of roaches...this one
recommends using 'boric acid':
http://flfl.essortment.com/getridroaches_ruby.htm

This is the humane method of getting rid of roaches...don't know if
you care about how the roaches are treated :)
http://www.vegsource.com/joanne/qa/qaroach.htm


I thought this link was very applicable to you; it is a legal
perspective on who is responsible for getting rid of roach
infestations, landlords or tenants:
http://www.retodayradio.com/RR-96-10-13.htm

Some of the most relevant information from this page is cited below:
"Q: We have had constant problems with cockroaches. We have complained
to the landlord to get our place sprayed, but he keeps telling us that
the problem is our fault. We keep a clean house but the roaches keep
coming. Who is really responsible?

A: Kellman: According to California law, the landlord is responsible
to take care of cockroach problems at the rental unit. Many times a
landlord tries to blame the tenant for the insect problems by claiming
the tenant is a bad housekeeper and does not keep the rental clean.
While it is true that the law will blame the tenant if poor
housekeeping causes an insect problem, many landlords try to stretch
this part of this law too far. Most tenants who have a cockroach
problem make several efforts on their own to get rid of the bugs
before even calling their landlord. This includes extra cleaning,
spraying and even using foggers. If the bugs keep coming, even after
these efforts, it appears clear that the problem is probably not
caused by the tenant. It may instead be caused by neighboring units or
colonies of the bugs living in the walls or floors. In such a case,
the infestation should be handled by the landlord at the landlord's
expense.

Smith: Mr. Kellman correctly points out that many times, the landlord
blames the tenant for insect and cockroach problems, because
experience has shown that to be the cause of the problem. Despite
this, most apartment buildings take regular pest control measures.
Managers are more than
willing to take care of any pest-related problem in the premises, even
though it may be the tenant's fault. This service is at no extra cost
to the tenant, but the tenant's cooperation is needed to make the
premises ready for spraying. Good landlords are interested in
completely taking care of the problem. If the source of the problem is
adjacent units, those will be sprayed, as well. But residents who
continue to be the source of the problem may be asked to reimburse the
landlord for the costs associated with the spraying, and could be
subject to legal proceedings for causing roaches, both in their own
and adjacent units."


This should serve you well in your quest, but if you are unsure of
anything feel free to post a clarification :)

Good luck!
answerguru-ga

During my apartment days I twice encountered the roach situation. In
one case the landlord treated the entire building and the problem was
solved. In the other case the landlord only treated one apartment at a
time as people complained. That method failed miserably because the
roaches simply moved next door and returned as soon as the treatment
wore off.

So...I suggest you speak to other tenants to see if they have a
problem and jointly push to have your whole building treated.
Otherwise, they WILL return.

As answered, the chemical approach works if the landlord is thorough.
In some areas of the country, a monthly treatment is needed regardless
of the tennant's efforts at maintaining cleanliness.

A purported natural way of keeping roaches at bay is to place osage
orange fruit around your apartment. These come from the trees that
were grown as hedgerows on early farms and before that furnished the
materials of indian bows. The pebbly surfaced green fruit is not
edible so it's not found through commercial channels. In the areas
where it grows, it can usually be had free for picking it off the
ground.

You first need to determine what KIND of roach it is.
 
Chemicals are the last resort.  Try some natural methods first.  If
you have Oriental roaches (they're the little ones that live in
kitchen cabinets, and are more a nuisance that a horror), try a mix of
baking soda and sugar, half and half.  Leave it in a dish in the
cupboards in which you've seen them.  They'll eat it because it's
sweet and the soda will kill them.  Takes a couple of days, but the
problem is usually over.

I've used boric acid in my apartment to get rid of roaches multiple
times.  I purchased it at a CVS or Rite-Aid drug store.  I had to ask
someone to help me find it -- it's not exactly the most prominent
item!

I found some holes along the wall and in my cabinets and sprinkled the
powder liberally.  It did the trick.  Good luck.