More Tenants Call KLBK with Problems at Baytree Apartments
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: January 11, 2013
More residents of the Baytree Apartments in central Lubbock called KLBK News, asking for help.
"You've got roofs flying off, and it affects everyone, either directly or indirectly," said John Andrews, who lives in one of the apartments in Baytree. "Waterfalls and stuff, i mean, just stuff pouring in. There's still tenants over there, but there shouldn't be."
The recent windstorm in December blew the roof off of part of the apartment complex, leaving apartments exposed to the elements.
Code Enforcement officials were at the apartments Thursday to inspect those areas, and according to Director of Codes Enforcement Stuart Walker, they found plumbing issues and structural issues, mainly the roof missing.
Because the roof was gone in some apartments, those second floor apartments flooded, as well as some of the apartments on the floor below, including the leasing office.
"We had this rain coming in, and the roof would have come down, on me," said Donna Holloway. She lived in one of the apartments where the roof blew off, and was moved the the first floor of another building in the complex before the rain storm hit.
According to Walker, Codes comes out to make sure that buildings are up to minimum housing standards. He encourages tenants to work with the guidelines for maintenance within their apartment complex first, but if they aren't getting the results they should be, they can call codes to have a voluntary inspection done in their apartment.
"We want to make sure that the citizens of Lubbock are living in dwellings that have that minimum standards," said Walker.
"It's unsanitary living in conditions where you can't even get a hot shower," said Andrews, who said he hasn't had hot water in almost a month. Holloway had the same problem, as well as most tenants who spoke to KLBK.
He also said they are working to compile a list of all the violations into one case to take to municipal structural standards court. Walker said he's hoping a judges order to make repairs will put some weight behind those necessary repairs. "What we'll be asking for is a repair, remove, or demolish order, to basically compel the property owner to make the necessary repairs of the violations that we found yesterday," said Walker.
Andrews and Holloway say they've had enough, and want answers.
"I've paid my rent every month, that's $580 to live like this," said Holloway.
"I'm upholding my end of the lease, and you know, he isn't," said Andrews.
The 'he' Andrews is talking about is Ed Lechner, the owner of the complex. He doesn't live in Lubbock, and many residents blame him for the issues, saying he's the one who doesn't fix things.
KLBK spoke to Lechner on the phone Friday night. Lechner said he's just as frustrated as the tenants, but he says it's the insurance company's fault for not approving payments that is slowing down the fixing process.
KLBK will also be speaking with Lechner in person in the coming week, and will ask the hard questions to get the tenants some answers.
"You've got roofs flying off, and it affects everyone, either directly or indirectly," said John Andrews, who lives in one of the apartments in Baytree. "Waterfalls and stuff, i mean, just stuff pouring in. There's still tenants over there, but there shouldn't be."
The recent windstorm in December blew the roof off of part of the apartment complex, leaving apartments exposed to the elements.
Code Enforcement officials were at the apartments Thursday to inspect those areas, and according to Director of Codes Enforcement Stuart Walker, they found plumbing issues and structural issues, mainly the roof missing.
Because the roof was gone in some apartments, those second floor apartments flooded, as well as some of the apartments on the floor below, including the leasing office.
"We had this rain coming in, and the roof would have come down, on me," said Donna Holloway. She lived in one of the apartments where the roof blew off, and was moved the the first floor of another building in the complex before the rain storm hit.
According to Walker, Codes comes out to make sure that buildings are up to minimum housing standards. He encourages tenants to work with the guidelines for maintenance within their apartment complex first, but if they aren't getting the results they should be, they can call codes to have a voluntary inspection done in their apartment.
"We want to make sure that the citizens of Lubbock are living in dwellings that have that minimum standards," said Walker.
"It's unsanitary living in conditions where you can't even get a hot shower," said Andrews, who said he hasn't had hot water in almost a month. Holloway had the same problem, as well as most tenants who spoke to KLBK.
He also said they are working to compile a list of all the violations into one case to take to municipal structural standards court. Walker said he's hoping a judges order to make repairs will put some weight behind those necessary repairs. "What we'll be asking for is a repair, remove, or demolish order, to basically compel the property owner to make the necessary repairs of the violations that we found yesterday," said Walker.
Andrews and Holloway say they've had enough, and want answers.
"I've paid my rent every month, that's $580 to live like this," said Holloway.
"I'm upholding my end of the lease, and you know, he isn't," said Andrews.
The 'he' Andrews is talking about is Ed Lechner, the owner of the complex. He doesn't live in Lubbock, and many residents blame him for the issues, saying he's the one who doesn't fix things.
KLBK spoke to Lechner on the phone Friday night. Lechner said he's just as frustrated as the tenants, but he says it's the insurance company's fault for not approving payments that is slowing down the fixing process.
KLBK will also be speaking with Lechner in person in the coming week, and will ask the hard questions to get the tenants some answers.
Comments
We use to live ther last year and many of times we had no water and sewage coming up in our bath tub and sink. The owner was out at the apartment last summer and did nothing to get the apartments repaired.All he wanted was to make it look nice so he could sale it. I have pic of the sewage that came up in our tub and sink.
Elizabeth E.
January 11, 2013 at 8:23 pm
We use to live ther last year and many of times we had no water and sewage coming up in our bath tub and sink. The owner was out at the apartment last summer and did nothing to get the apartments repaired.All he wanted was to make it look nice so he could sale it. I have pic of the sewage that came up in our tub and sink.
Elizabeth E.
January 11, 2013 at 8:21 pm
