Hundreds of tenants are currently enduring the harsh winter weather without any heating in their apartment complex, all due to a maintenance issue.
Since early December, the residents of Chelsea Wood Condominiums in Greenbelt, Maryland, located approximately 32 miles south of Baltimore, have been enduring cold temperatures in their homes without any heating.
However, even though the residents have been complaining to management about various issues, they will still endure the freezing temperatures for a few more weeks.
Tonyia Thompson expressed her frustration with the problem, as she suffers from sciatica that tends to worsen in cold weather.
“I’m wearing a sweat suit layered to keep warm,” she said, sitting comfortably on her couch at home, sporting a cozy beanie hat and a bulky jacket.
“I had to protect myself by throwing on my knees two or three times due to the intense pain I was experiencing.”
According to the tenants, management notified them that the heating issue was being caused by a broken pipe.
The resolution, unfortunately, will not be achieved until late January.
RCN Management took proactive measures by placing letters near the mailboxes in every building, ensuring that tenants were promptly informed about the issue.
In the letter, it was mentioned that there is a need to repair a system of underground pipes.
However, they emphasized that it might take contractors as long as three weeks to resolve the issue.
Thompson told ABC affiliate WUSA that he wasn’t trying to freeze to death.
“I’ve been exposed to the cold for a prolonged period, causing my knees to weaken and my back to ache.”
Jennifer Everett explained to WRC-TV that using space heaters is not a viable option due to the additional strain it puts on her apartment and the building’s electrical system.
According to Everett, wearing a scarf and speaking from her home, she emphasized the importance of not plugging in multiple devices simultaneously. She warned that doing so could cause the fuses to blow.
“It’s truly unfortunate for individuals who have babies, animals, or older adults who rely on this.”
The tenants were recently informed by RCN Management that they will no longer be managing the complex after December 31. They mentioned that a new company will be taking over the management.
The U.S. Sun reached out to the Chelsea Wood Condominiums for comment, but they did not provide a response at this time.
Thompson expressed her unwillingness to leave her home due to the unresolved issues that the management should address.
“I take ownership of this situation. I don’t believe it’s right for me to walk away because of what others are failing to do. It just doesn’t make sense,” she expressed to WUSA.
