MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Code Enforcement found numerous violations inside a Memphis apartment complex.
Forty inspectors went through nearly 400 apartments at Serenity Towers February 11 after a report of bed bugs.
Serenity is owned by Global Ministries, which has had numerous complaints at other properties. Serenity is a senior high-rise.
Active bed bugs were found in 134 apartments. That includes all 10 floors in both the east and west towers.
“Oh man, that’s bad,” said Chris Shaw, visiting a friend who lives at Serenity.
The were also found in couches and chairs in common areas.
An inspection report said, “City code inspectors observed additional violations including plumbing leaks, ceiling damage and other violation issues.”
“They’re doing a heavy duty spraying now where they’re doing the community room, the lobby, everything downstairs, all of the floors,” said resident Trisha Taylor.
Global Ministries will be given time to treat the infested areas and make repairs. The city will return to the facility on March 17th.
If the owner does not correct the violations, code enforcement uses its final authorized course of action, which is to cite the owner to court.
“There are things being done. There are measures that are being taken to address the situation,” said resident Willie Harris.
GMF told WREG it was aware of a bed bug issue when it purchased Serenity Towers in 2014. It invested $100,000 towards fixing the bed bug problem last year.
It said it plans to invest $150,000 towards correcting the problem this year.
GMF is seeking out volunteers to prepare units for bed bug treatments, as about 100 residents cannot do it themselves.
It is giving free mattress covers to each resident and replacing fabric furniture in the common areas.
It is also reportedly holding tenant association meetings to discuss concerns.
Recently, HUD pulled funding from the Warren and Tulane Apartments which are both owned by Global Ministries.
| Apartment No. | Misc. Violation Order | Code Issues | ||
| 1 | 5 | East | X | DAMAGED FLOOR, HOLES IN WALL, COMMODE DAMAGED |
| 2 | 202 | East | X | ROACHES |
| 3 | 203 | East | X | REPAIR TRIM AROUND WINDOW |
| 4 | 203 | East | X | ROACHES |
| 5 | 204 | East | X | REPAIR STOVE, REPAIR DAMAGED SINK |
| 6 | 204 | East | X | CEILING DAMAGE, REPAINT APARTMENT, CLEAN VENTS |
| 7 | 204 | East | X | CEILING IN LIVING ROOM |
| 205 | East | x | CEILING OVER SINK | |
| 8 | 207 | East | X | REPLACE STOVE |
| 9 | 208 | East | X | CEILING IN LIVING ROOM |
| 10 | 210 | East | X | REPAIR LEAKY SINK IN KITCHEN AND TUB |
| 11 | 211 | East | X | CEILING OVER SINK |
| 12 | 212 | East | X | CEILING DAMAGE, REPAINT APARTMENT, CLEAN VENTS |
| 13 | 212 | East | X | CEILING OVER SINK |
| 14 | 213 | East | X | ROACHES |
| 15 | 214 | East | X | CEILING DAMAGE, LEAKS IN WINDOW, THERMOSTAT |
| 16 | 215 | East | X | REPAIR DAMAGED TUB, RUSTED |
| 17 | 220 | East | X | FAUCET LEAKING , COMMODE DAMAGE |
| 18 | 222 | East | X | Spray for ROACHES |
| 19 | 229 | East | X | Spray ROACHES |
| 20 | 231 | East | X | CEILING DAMAGED, REPAIR TILE FRONT DOOR |
| 21 | 232 | East | X | CEILING DAMAGED, CRACK IN WALL |
| 22 | 320 | East | X | REPAIR STOVE, COMMODE LOOSE |
| 23 | 320 | East | X | REPAIR LIGHT FIXTURE |
| 24 | 322 | East | X | COMMODE LOOSE |
| 25 | 402 | East | X | HOLE ABOVE STOVE |
| 26 | 403 | East | X | CLEAN VENTS, REPAIR SHOWER |
| 27 | 405 | East | X | REPAIR THERMOSTAT |
| 28 | 407 | East | X | KITCHEN SINK CABINET RUSTED |
| 29 | 415 | East | X | REPAIR CRACKED CEILING |
| 30 | 418 | East | X | REPAIR KITCHEN FAUCET |
| 31 | 425 | East | X | REPAIR LEAK IN SHOWER CEILING, REPAIR KNOB ON SINK |
| 32 | 428 | East | X | HOLE IN FLOOR UNDER WINDOW, AROUND WINDOW, STAINS CEILING, CLEAN VENTS |
| 33 | 429 | East | X | REPLACE STAINED CEILING, CLEAN VENTS |
| 34 | 502 | East | X | REPAINT WALL TRIM. |
| 35 | 502 | East | X | REPAIR KITCHEN FLOOR, STOVE AND SINK |
| 36 | 502 | East | X | REPAINT WALLS |
| 37 | 504 | East | X | REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING TILES |
| 38 | 504 | East | X | DAMAGED CEILING |
| 39 | 506 | East | X | REPAIR DEFECTIVE DUPLEX LIVING ROOM |
| 40 | 506 | East | X | REPAIR DUPLEX LIVING ROOM |
| 41 | 510 | East | X | REPAIR BEDROOM FLOOR, REPAIR STOVE, REPLACE DAMAGED SINK |
| 42 | 510 | East | X | REPAIR SINK LEAKS |
| 43 | 512 | East | X | REPAIR LEAKY SINK IN KITCHEN AND TUB |
| 44 | 512 | East | X | REPAIR SINK LEAKS, TUB LEAKS |
| Apartment No. | Misc. Violation Order | Code Issues | ||
| 513 | East | X | THERMOSTAT DAMAGED | |
| 514 | East | X | REPAIR HOT WATER HEATER. | |
| 516 | East | X | REPAIR FLOOR TILES, CEILING TILES | |
| 520 | East | X | REPAIR CEILING & DOOR DAMAGED , | |
| 520 | East | X | CEILING TILES LEAKS | |
| 530 | East | X | REPAIR HOLES & LEAKS IN WALL, REPAIR WATER HEATER | |
| 530 | East | X | REPAIR WALLS, REPAIR HOT WATER HEATER | |
| 603 | East | X | TOLIET DAMAGED | |
| 620 | East | X | REPAIR WINDOW . | |
| 622 | East | X | REPAIR WONDOW FRAME, DAMAGED, LEAKING WATER | |
| 720 | East | X | REPAIR LEAKING WATER ON CEILING IN LIVING ROOM, CHECK FOR MOLD | |
| 723 | East | X | REPAIR LEAKING KITCHEN WINDOW | |
| 530 | East | X | REPAIR WALLS, REPAIR HOT WATER HEATER | |
| 603 | East | X | TOLIET DAMAGED | |
| 620 | East | X | REPAIR WINDOW . | |
| 622 | East | X | REPAIR WONDOW FRAME, DAMAGED, LEAKING WATER | |
| 720 | East | X | REPAIR LEAKING WATER ON CEILING IN LIVING ROOM, CHECK FOR MOLD | |
| 723 | East | X | REPAIR LEAKING KITCHEN WINDOW | |
| 725 | East | X | REPAIR HOLES IN WALLS, REPALCE DAMAGED TILES | |
| 726 | East | X | REPAIR LIGHT FIXTURES, REPAIR HOLES IN WALLS. | |
| 728 | East | X | RESURFACE TUB, RUSTED, CLEAN VENTS | |
| 730 | East | X | REPAIR LEAKING WINDOW, REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET, HOT WATER KNOB | |
| 803 | East | X | STOVE BROKEN | |
| 813 | East | X | BATHROOM CEILING LEAKS, BATHROOM SINK HANDLES STRIPPED | |
| 813 | East | X | TOLIET LEAKING | |
| 815 | East | X | WINDOW LEAKS, CEILING DAMAGED | |
| 824 | East | X | REPAIR STOVE, CABINET DOOR DAMAGED | |
| 829 | East | X | REPLACE CABINET DRAWER, DAMAGED REFRIGERATOR | |
| 902 | East | X | REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING TILES | |
| 904 | East | X | REPAIR STOVE | |
| 905 | East | X | CEILING DAMAGE LIVING ROOM | |
| 906 | East | X | COMMODE WONT FLUSH | |
| 908 | East | X | CHECK OUTLETS OVER HEAT | |
| 909 | East | X | REPAIR COMMODE LEAKING AT BASE | |
| 914 | East | X | REPAIR TUB WONT DRAIN | |
| 923 | East | X | COMMODE RUNS | |
| 931 | East | X | REPAIR STOVE | |
| 1012 | East | X | DAMAGED BATHROOM CEILING, TUB DRAIN | |
| 1022 | East | X | TUB FAUCET LEAKS | |
| Apartment No. | Misc. Violation Order | Code Issues | ||
| 1 | 212 | West | X | REPLACE CARPED |
| 2 | 214 | West | X | REPLACE CARPET, REPAIR CEILING, REPAIR LIGHT IN BATHROOM |
| 3 | 214 | West | X | PAINT WALLS |
| 4 | 302 | West | X | REPAIR SINK, REPLACE COMMODE HANDLE |
| 5 | 303 | West | X | REPAIR CARPET |
| 6 | 305 | West | X | WINDOW LEAKS , REPAIR STOVE |
| 7 | 308 | West | X | BATHTUB FAUCET LEAKS |
| 8 | 311 | West | X | WINDOW LEAKS |
| 9 | 314 | West | X | WINDOW LEAKS, CEILING DAMAGED |
| 10 | 315 | West | X | REPAIR FIXTURES AND SINK WATER PRESSURE |
| 11 | 601 | West | X | REPAINT WALLS, REPLACE HANDLE ON COMMODE |
| 12 | 602 | West | X | REPAIR KITCHEN COUNTER DAMAGE |
| 13 | 603 | West | X | REPAIR KITCHEN WINDOW LEAKS WATER |
| 14 | 604 | West | X | REPAIR KITCHEN FAUCET LEAK |
| 15 | 606 | West | X | TREAT FOR ROACHES |
| 16 | 607 | West | X | REPAIR KITCHEN COUNTER DAMAGE, KITCHEN SINK CLOGGED |
| 17 | 610 | West | X | REPAIR LIGHT IN BATHROOM, FAUCET LEAKS IN TUB |
| 18 | 611 | West | X | WALL DAMAGED |
| 19 | 612 | West | X | REPLACE BATHROOM SINK KNOBS, REPAIR TOLIET WONT FLUSH |
| 20 | 613 | West | X | REPAIR CABINET KITCHEN, FLOOR DAMAGE |
| 21 | 614 | West | X | RERPAINT BEFROOM, COUNTER DOOR MISSING KITCHEN |
| 22 | 615 | West | X | REPAIR STOVE EYES MISSING, KITCHEN FAUCET LEAK |
| 23 | 702 | West | X | REPLACE STOVE, REPAIR KITCHEN CABINET |
| 24 | 703 | West | X | TREAT FOR ROACHES |
| 25 | 708 | West | X | REPAIR DOOR LOCK, REPAIR COMMODE |
| 26 | 801 | West | X | PREPAIR WINDOW SEAL |
| 27 | 805 | West | X | REPAIR WINDOW LEAKS |
| 28 | 806 | West | X | REPAIR WINDOW OFF TRACK |
| 29 | 811 | West | X | REPAIR HOLES IN WALL, WINDOW LEAKS |
| 30 | 813 | West | X | WINDOW LEAKS |
| 31 | 815 | West | X | REPAIR STOVE, WINDOW LEAKS, BATHTUB DRAIN STOPPED UP |
| 32 | 907 | West | X | REPLACE CARPET, MISSING BASEBOARD |
| 33 | 908 | West | X | REPLACE TOLIET HANDLE |
| 34 | 912 | West | X | REPAIR LIVING ROOM FIXTURE BROKEN |
| 35 | 1001 | West | X | PLEASE REPAIR CEILING LEAKS, VENTS DAMAGED, THERMOSTAT FELL OFF WALL |
| 36 | 1001 | West | X | DAMAGED CEILING TILES WATER DAMAGED, CLEAN VENTS, REPAIR THERMOSTAT |
| 37 | 1010 | West | X | REPAIR BATH TUB DRAIN. |
| 38 | 1010 | West | X | REPAIR TUB WONT DRAIN |
| 39 | 1013 | West | X | REPAIR COMMODE FLUSH LEVER |