Feb 8, 2026
A married couple nearing debt freedom thought relief was months away. Instead, they’re stuck choosing between staying in a roach-infested apartment or derailing their debt payoff to move.
The husband called The Ramsey Show (1) to ask whether they should stick to “Baby Step Two” — aggressively paying off debt — or redirect their money toward the first and last month’s rent and a security deposit for a new rental. The catch? Their lease doesn’t end until late November, and saving for a move would likely mean pausing debt payments for most of the year.
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“My wife and I, we potentially can be out of debt by the end of this year, but she currently wants to move to a new apartment because of an ongoing roach issue,” the caller explained.
The couple is renting in Florida, where comparable two-bedroom units cost an estimated US$2,100 (C$2,900) to US$2,200 (C$3,000) a month. A move would require thousands of dollars upfront — money that would otherwise wipe out their remaining debt by year-end. This dilemma will feel familiar to many Canadians facing high rents and limited housing options.
Ramsey hosts say livability beats a perfect debt timeline
Co-hosts Jade Warshaw and George Kamel quickly reframed the issue as more than a budgeting question.
“I can’t do roaches,” Warshaw said bluntly.
Kamel questioned why the apartment complex hadn’t resolved the infestation. The caller said their lease places responsibility for pest control on tenants — and while they pay for treatments in their unit, the problem appears to affect the entire building.
That distinction matters. If pests are in one unit, treatment may help. But when an infestation is building-wide, individual spraying often fails because pests migrate from neighbouring units.
“You can spray till the cows come home,” Warshaw said, “but they’re going to keep coming.”
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In that context, both hosts sided with the wife: Moving out is reasonable, even if it temporarily slows financial progress.
“Sometimes the baby steps feel like two steps forward, a little step back,” Warshaw said. “But in this case — roaches.”
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Breaking a lease isn’t automatic in Canada
The conversation raises a question many renters quietly hope has a simple answer: Does a serious pest problem give tenants the right to break a lease without penalty?
In Canada, the answer is still: not automatically.
While Ramsey’s advice prioritizes health and peace of mind, it isn’t legal guidance and tenancy rules vary by province and territory.
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Landlords are required to provide a unit that meets basic habitability standards (2), which may include controlling pest infestation. However, leases and tenancy laws can complicate matters.
In many cases, tenants must be able to show that the infestation is severe and ongoing (3), that the landlord was notified in writing, that a reasonable time was given to address the issue and that the problem affects basic health or safety.
Without clear documentation, tenants who move out early may still be liable for rent, penalties or lease-breaking fees.
What Canadian renters should do before moving out
Renters in similar situations should document everything — photos, videos, pest-control invoices and written complaints — and keep all communication with landlords in writing.
Provincial tenant unions, housing authorities or legal aid clinics can help determine whether conditions violate local habitability standards and what remedies may be available.
Kamel even joked that he’d upload the lease to ChatGPT to help interpret responsibilities — a lighthearted comment that underscores a serious point: Tenants need to understand precisely what their lease and provincial tenancy laws say before making a costly decision.
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The key takeaway from The Ramsey Show wasn’t that debt doesn’t matter: rather, it was that financial discipline shouldn’t come at the expense of basic quality of life.
“I would just try to make up for lost time once you guys are in that new apartment,” Kamel said.
“Let’s work twice as hard to get out of debt by the end of the year, regardless.”
For renters choosing between financial progress and an unhealthy home, the message is clear: money goals matter, but they’re not meant to be achieved while living with roaches.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
The Ramsey Show (1); Tribunals Ontario: Landlord and Tenant Board (2); Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (3)
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Monique Danao is a highly-experienced journalist, editor and copywriter with an extensive background in finance and technology. Her work has been published in Forbes, Decential, 99Designs, Fast Capital 360, Social Media Today and the South China Morning Post. She leverages her industry expertise to produce well-researched and insightful articles. She has an MA in Design Research from York University and a BA in Communication Research from the University of the Philippines - Diliman.
