Our family has lived in this building since the 1990s, and despite their decades of tenancy, the…read moreliving conditions in the apartment have consistently been neglected. I am extremely dissatisfied and concerned with the lack of maintenance and the overall disregard for their well-being.
Despite their repeated requests for essential repairs, the issues remain unresolved. As a result, I have filed a formal complaint with 311 to escalate the matter, as it's clear that management has not responded adequately.
To date, the only maintenance that has been addressed in a meaningful way occurred under pressure:
1. Lead Paint Violation - When my young nephew was diagnosed with lead poisoning, the Department of Health intervened and it was mandated that all living room walls be addressed due to the led paint, but the landlord at the time only painted two walls, stating the other two walls had no led, in blatant non-compliance.
2. Bathroom Repair - My parents paid the superintendent of the building out-of-pocket to fix the bathroom. The work was done poorly. A wall was constructed around the bathtub, making the space extremely tight. Given my mother's knee problems, she now needs a step stool just to enter the tub, which is not only dangerous but inhumane.
It is especially disheartening to learn that when their refrigerator broke over a year ago, management refused to replace it, stating it was not their responsibility--forcing my parents to purchase one themselves. This is unacceptable and reflects a serious disregard for tenant welfare.
Beyond those two instances, basic repairs and requests have been ignored or superficially addressed. I am listing below the current, urgent issues that continue to affect their safety, health, and quality of life:
Ongoing and Unresolved Issues:
- Broken mailbox - Mail and packages are regularly stolen or tampered with.
- Unstable staircase - My elderly parents must climb five flights daily. The stairs are often dirty, unsafe, and frequented by individuals smoking marijuana.
- Rodent infestation - Persistent mice problems, with droppings and holes throughout the apartment.
- Leaks and water damage - One particularly serious and ongoing issue is the mold that is developing behind the bathtub walls. Water leaks have persisted for some time, and the downstairs neighbor continues to complain about water seeping into their unit. Yet the only "repairs" done so far have been temporary and superficial--someone arrives, applies a bit of caulking, and replaces a few tiles with mismatched ones. This is not a solution; it's a band-aid on a bullet hole, and it does nothing to address the underlying water damage and growing mold problem, which is a health hazard.
- Kitchen deterioration - Cabinets are falling apart, and the stove is non-functional.
- Unstable flooring - The entire apartment floor is uneven, with visible bumps and unsafe slants throughout.
- Broken and dangerous windows - One window is cracked, and others cannot stay open without makeshift support.
- Non-functioning light fixtures - Overhead lighting has failed, and the landlord refuses to repair it.
- Trash in hallways - Hallways are often filled with uncollected garbage, creating a fire and health hazard.
- Paint requests denied - My parents have repeatedly asked for the walls to be repainted and are told to paint it themselves, which is both unacceptable and a violation of tenant rights
