(Memphis) Mold, roaches and no A/C. Those are just some of the complaints we’re hearing from people living an apartment complex in South Memphis. And some who live at the Pendleton Place Apartments say they don’t believe anything will change.
When News Channel 3 showed up to the Pendleton Place Apartments Thursday, the management told us we had to leave and even called the police, but it did not stop people from coming up to us to tell us about the problems they have there.
“I have been there since November and they haven’t fixed anything,” said Tanesha Young.
“When you go to the office, sometimes they don’t want to open up the door,” said Travis Triggs.
“What does it feel like in your house?” asked reporter Sabrina Hall.
“Hell,” said Christopher Roberts.
No A/C may top the list of complaints, but the mold probably comes in as a strong second.
“In the freezer there is mold,” said Young.
Young says the mold in the carpet is even more disturbing, because she has a 1-year-old child.
“For a while, I wouldn’t even let him crawl because the carpet is filthy,” she said.
Pictures sent to us from yet another person living in the complex show living standards they find unacceptable.
“The roaches that they got up in here are bigger than they got in Texas,” said Roberts.
Pendleton Place Apartments is government-subsidized housing and people who live there say they feel like there is nothing they can do.
“They probably can’t afford lawyers,” said attorney Howard Manis.
Manis says everyone is entitled to certain basic things in their lease.
”They need to be clean, they need to provide certain essential services, heat, air, and if they are not, there are potential lawsuits or problems in regards to that,” he said.
After the manager kicked News Channel 3 off the property, we called later to get their side of the story. The manager hung up on us.
“I don’t believe this place should be open,” said Roberts.
If you are considered low-income and need help from an attorney, Call Memphis Area Legal services at (901) 523-8822 or go to http://www.malsi.org/.
