Cascades Grandview Apartments
Greensboro, NC -- There's no denying this summer has been hot. In fact, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says we're in the middle of the hottest 12-month period on record.
Now imagine dealing with those temperatures without any cool air or air conditioning in a small apartment.
It's a story you saw first on News 2, last month, we told you about the more than 200 residents of the Cascades Grandview Apartment Complex.
An electrical short took out the building's air conditioning and their pool stopped working.
To make matters worse, residents say the complex hasn't been responsive to these problems.
They turned to the Greensboro Housing Coalition, The coalition said it seemed like management was doing what they could. Residents then turned back to the apartment managers. The managers said give it two weeks, that was 20 days ago.
The residents turned to the city knowing the law could require the AC be fix in the next two days.
But city inspectors say no AC in this weather, while a concern, is not an emergency.
The inspector gave the complex another 30 days to fix it.
Now, residents are doing what they see as their last hope.
There are more than 200 people in the apartment complex and they've been steaming - literally - for a month, fed up and just ready to cut their losses and get out of the complex.
About two dozen of them gathered in the courtyard of the complex just a few hours ago in a show of solidarity.
The idea is if they band together maybe someone will finally listen.
"I feel like it's an emergency. We are having heat strokes," said Janice Edwards, a resident.
Attorney Richard Craig led the meeting Monday evening.
He told the residents about their rights, what they can and can not do, legally. He also answered questions about housing issues and the court system many at the meeting have never dealt with before.
"Legal action ought to be down the list," he said. "When you've contacted city representatives, when the media has been involved there comes a point at which there's nothing else left to do."
News 2 has a copy of the letter the apartment managers sent to the tenants on June 20th.
It says the part for the AC was on the way and the AC would be back on by June 30th.
That hasn't happened. And there have been no other updates.
But, nine days into July, some residents are now seeing red - red pieces of paper posted on their doors saying their rent is late.
The residents' message back? If you haven't held up your end of the deal why should we?
"Right now we're just hoping we can get some answers and figure out what we can do," said Tyler Madden, who says he has actually paid his rent through the term of his lease.
I also reached out to this area's city councilman, Zack Matheny. He says, right now, the city's hands are tied.
"We are, we doing everything that we would normally do in any case. I'm sure this isn't the only building, the only tenant, that is lacking their air conditioning. So we've got to take care of everybody," Matheny said.
City inspectors acknowledge the AC being out is a violation. They've given owners 30 days, that ends July 30th.
Managers have refused to tell us when this could be fixed. Monday night, News 2 spoke with an employee in the front office who said she had no updates.
Experts say it's not a good idea to withhold your rent during a dispute like this. You can get it back in court.
So what do you do? North Carolina legal aide offers this advice: develop a paper trail - put your concerns and complaints in writing. If others are having the same issue with the same company or person, band together. Get the housing coalition, tenant-landlord dispute office involved.
If that doesn't work, file a legal complaint in civil court.
WFMY News 2