Tenant decides to self terminate lease 17 days in. MD

[Jeromie Williams]

I had just got an email from my new tenant that decided to vacate the premises because she had "discovered conditions within the apartment that she deemed unacceptable for her to continue with her lease." She claims that a week after moving in she found some rodent poop in the bathroom and ceiling, as well as, dead mice in the ceiling. She also states there are large open holes that allow easy access for mice to come in and out as they please. Next, she informed me that beetles were coming through the carpet "especially where dirt can still be seen from the lack of the ground floor being completely cemented." Lastly, she found it "extremely disconcerting that when I was explaining the issue of mice and what was found I was asked whether or not the mice were dead or alive. I believe it is a fair assumption to make that no person would want to live with feces or carcasses above their head."

This is a gist of what was sent to me and as a still new landlord this has me very confused. I would like to explain my side and then ask for advice from more experienced people (of course I'm aware that I will still need to get a lawyer to talk about this with.)

For context, we informed her that before she moved there had been mice but we called pest control twice, before she moved in when renovations were done and months prior. The tenant that had just left the month hadn't seen mice for a couple months before he moved out. During renovations the contractor also went around the outside of the building to seal up any holes they found to make it hard for them to get in. This is my first time ever hearing about beetles coming through the ground. The asking if they were dead or alive was to see if there was infestation, but I truly believe the dead mice that might be in the ceiling have been dead for quite awhile and the reason I hadn't gotten them removed was because I didn't know they were there. I was told by the first pest control person that mice are so small that they decompose quickly so I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning up and that they leave no smell when decomposing.

The lease I had her sign was the one BP offers, which states that she agreed that when she moved that it was rodent proof. She also did a walk through as well before she signed the lease to make sure it was up to her satisfaction. Currently, I'm doing a tour in South Korea so I'm not there in person. My girlfriend is managing the property so has been there in person.

Additionally, she changed some things that weren't really properly explained or given approval for, like she wanted to change light and we assumed light bulb, but in her letter she says something about "The light in the bedroom was replaced and energy efficient lights were added in its place they were installed by a code official." That sounds more like a light bulb than the impression we got. She also changed the ceiling panels in the bedroom which I never approved of.

So, I'm wondering what my options are because I think I have a good case for taking her to court to get the rest of the rent money and she said she already vacated the apt, when can I try to lease it out again?