Sewage leaked into North Austin apartments

KVUE News reports that residents at the Cottages at Wells Branch Parkway say raw sewage has leaked into some apartments and into a creek behind the complex. They also say this isn’t the first time this has happened. More on this story…

Tenants needing repairs should send a letter to the landlord immediately by certified mail, return receipt requested. In such emergency situations, tenants can give as little as 24 hours notice that the repairs need to be completed. When the conditions involve sewage or flooding, the tenant may repair and deduct immediately after giving proper notice to the landlord. See ATC’s Repairs fact sheet for details.

Notify Landlord of Problems in Writing

I live in a senior community. In the attic area, insulation has been haphazardly blown, and it looks like pink cotton candy. There are pieces all over the attic. There are little flecks of crystals that shine when light is put on it. Because there are no out ducts for dryers, all of the lint goes right into the ceiling. When we turn on our air conditioning, it fills our apartments with lint and white dust. It is everywhere! Also there are no ducts over our kitchen stoves, and when the fan is turned on it blows right back into our face. In the bathroom, where the fan is in the ceiling, there are no flaps on the outlet on the roof. Whom do I get in touch with about these problems? I have made several phone calls and I always get the runaround.

What are this tenant’s rights?

Utility Interruptions

A reader of the Austin American Statesman submitted this question to the newspaper:

Our daughter has lived in an apartment complex for about five months, and the water has been shut off countless times, supposedly because of ongoing construction and water-pipe breaks. There is no warning of an impending shut-off, and a note is usually tacked to the door after it happens. The water stays off for hours at a time, sometimes all day. Our daughter is medically disabled and usually home all day and cannot function without water. What are her rights as a tenant? —K.B.

What did the Austin Tenants’ Council advise this tenant?

Apartment Conditions Affect Renters

For some renters in Austin substandard conditions are threatening their sense of security and even their safety. FOX 7’s Crystal Cotti exposes the problem and the city’s limited ability to solve it in this special report.

Renter Claims Rat Invasion

A Southeast Austin woman said rats are crawling all over her apartment, and management is not doing enough to get rid of them. Lena Parrott moved into the Mission Hills Apartments in September. She said she saw her first rat a month later. Parrott said the rats have torn her furniture and raided her food and garbage. More…

If you have an issue that threatens your health or safety, give management a written request for repairs. Be sure to keep a copy of the letter and send it by certified mail (e-mail is not proper notice under the Texas Property Code). ATC offers a Self-Help Repair Packet to help renters enforce their rights.