LANHAM, Md. — Residents of a large Lanham, Maryland apartment complex claim conditions have become unlivable, without reliable air conditioning, leading to a protest as they fear for their health in the next heat wave.
Managers of the 315-unit Forest Lake complex, run by Stanciu Management in McLean Virginia, said repairs have been made, but residents complain the air conditioning has not run reliably since the middle of May. The building managers ended up calling police when residents organized a protest in June, according to a police report obtained by WUSA9.
Residents provided video of the protest and photos of roaches, mice and overflowing dumpsters they claim were taken on the property.
“We organized a peaceful protest, went to the rental office to complain about the air conditioning and they locked the doors and called the police," resident Douglas Byrd said as he waved a police report of the incident.
No one was charged, according to the documents.
The report says an officer told the crowd managers promised an electrician was on the way to do repairs. But Byrd claims the repairs were not effective.
"Here it is the 22nd of July, he promised on the 9th of June an electrician was on the way," Byrd said. "I haven’t had any air conditioning all summer. They provided two cheap plastic fans that recycle the hot humid air from one place to another."
Resident Hilda Hamilton called the situation "disgusting" and "a nightmare.” Hamilton installed her own portable AC unit and has rigged up NINE fans to blow air into the far corners of her three-bedroom unit. She said she pays $1,800 per month in rent and that utilities -- including air conditioning -- are provided by the landlord.
A representative of Stanciu Management told WUSA9 that approximately $80,000 has been invested in repairs this summer. They added that as of July 22, seven of eight large compressors that serve the 22 buildings in the complex were functioning with repairs scheduled for the eighth unit.
The company posted notices on May 28 that repairs were being done.
Prince George’s County has a new ordinance requiring that landlords who provide air conditioning ensure that it is functioning between June 1 and September 30.
A spokesperson for the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) sent WUSA9 the following statement:
DPIE conducts regular inspections at this complex. The owner was issued a violation notice in June for an air conditioning problem. An inspection a week later showed that the management company was abating the issue by having work done on the system.
DPIE returned to the property on Tuesday, July 20, for a routine inspection. The inspector returned today to follow up on issues found on Tuesday with the air conditioning and a violation notice was issued for an air conditioning problem observed on July 20 that had not been abated.
The management company has provided documentation that they continue to work on the system, though the repairs are expected to take some time because of the advanced age of the unit. The DPIE inspector assigned to the area has witnessed a contractor onsite working on the system on at least five occasions. Repairs have included changing the breaker system for the chiller, cleaning coils, etc. DPIE will continue to monitor the work on the air conditioner.
Prince George’s County Code requires air conditioning to be provided to cool units up to 80 degrees from June 1 to September 30.
DPIE received 10 complaints from the complex in the last month – six related to air conditioning, one for a hole in a wall, one for a leak and two for trash pickup concerns. The air conditioning complaints were addressed above. The hole in the wall was repaired and verified by the inspector. The tenant with the leak could not be reached when the inspector attempted to reach her twice. Trash overflow was abated the day of the inspection or the next day and photos were provided to the inspector.
*Editor's note: This statement was sent to WUSA9 after the story aired on Tv.