Bed-Stuy couple says unsafe apartment is no place to raise a family
Joshua and his pregnant wife, Skye, say they have endured months of dangerous living conditions, including brown water pooling in the bathtub, peeling tiles, persistent mold and malfunctioning electricity.
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A Bedford-Stuyvesant couple says the hazardous conditions in their apartment have turned their home into a house of horrors.
Joshua and his pregnant wife, Skye, say they have endured months of dangerous living conditions, including brown water pooling in the bathtub, peeling tiles, persistent mold and malfunctioning electricity.
They say their cries for help have gone unanswered, despite a recent inspection by the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development that found nine separate violations.
"If you plug something into that outlet, you’re going to get shocked," Joshua said, adding that they are currently without a building key and are unable to use their stovetop or oven.
Skye told News 12 she was most concerned about the health risks, especially with their baby on the way. "I’m worried the mold could make me or my baby sick," she said.
Joshua says he has been alerting management for months, including asking for an HPD inspection back in May, however management responded to his complaints by filing a harassment claim against him, claiming he was loitering in front of his building and harassing the buildings super.
"I’m not trying to harass anyone," Joshua said. "I just want the job done in the house I pay my bills at."
Now, with their bags packed, the couple says they are ready to move if the situation doesn’t improve soon.
"I feel like I’m living in a hellhole," Joshua said. "I’m beyond frustrated."
News 12 reached out to the rental company for comment and is awaiting a response.
HPD issued a statement to News 12 saying, "According to HPDonline, the initial complaint was submitted, and inspectors were on-site shortly after. Numerous conditions were observed, and multiple violations were issued and communicated to the property owner. At this stage, it is the landlord’s responsibility to correct the conditions within the required timeframe to ensure tenants are living in a safe environment."
