GREENBELT, Md. — Residents of a Greenbelt condominium say they haven’t had heat for weeks and might not get it back in time for the cold snap.
At the Chelsea Wood Condominiums some residents feel left out in the cold.
“I loved [moving here] cause I was just so happy to finally become an owner instead of a renter,” Tonyia Thompson said.
For eight years Thompson has made her Chelsea Wood condo home. She said the home has been a dream come true. Up until last week.
“Last Thursday, when I woke up, I didn't have heat,” she said. “I came back home. The heat wasn't on.”
“It was just freezing cold in here. It didn't make any sense.”
According to a note from the condo’s management, the entire complex is without heat. There is a system of underground pipes that must be repaired. It may take contractors up to three weeks to fix the problem. The note suggests that they seek other accommodations.
“I'm not trying to freeze to death,” Thompson said. “I'm under cold for a long period of time, my knees give out, my back and everything.”
At this point, it is important to note that condos are not like apartments.
In the case of the Chelsea Wood Condominiums, there is a condo association board. Volunteers that are elected to make decisions for the complex and responsible for maintaining the utilities that run to the buildings.
The board can delegate to a management company, which they have done. We called the management company and the owner didn’t want to go on camera but told us the company has trouble fixing the issue because the condo board doesn’t have adequate funds.
He also mentioned the board terminated their contract effective end of the year.
We emailed and called the president of the board, but they could not be reached to comment. At this point residents are stuck and condo management is advising residents stay elsewhere.
“I mean, I could stay with my sister, but it would be pretty tight,” Thompson said.
She doesn’t want to have to abandon her home because of the cold.
“My thing is, I own this,” she said. “I don't feel that I have a right to leave because what people are not doing. It doesn't make any sense.”