Residents express concern over possible code violations at University Village Apartments
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Tenants living at University Village Apartments in Colorado Springs are expressing concern over possible code violations they have experienced prior to a broken heat pipe.
KRDO first reported on a broken pipe Friday that has left residents in three apartment complexes without a heating system amid freezing weather.
Cassidy Dey says on Oct. 29 there was a water main break that flooded her kitchen floor. Now, she's been without heat for almost a month.
“It’s been a very big struggle because we all just close our doors and get under heated blankets," Dey said.
Monica Olson says the property management provided 1500-watt space heaters but sometimes those appliances are not enough.
“They don’t live here so they don’t understand what we go through," Olson said. "We have it on all day and we had to go get a second heater and then we bought three electric blankets last night.”
Shannon Rishky says she's not surprised about some of the issues the management teams have had to resolve in the past five years.
"In their defense, these buildings are old," said Rishky, who has also used her stove's broiler to warm up in the morning. "A couple years ago it was the air conditioning unit that had to be revamped."
Rishky says she's seen the management team and owners of University Village shift multiple times.
Brett Shelton, the regional manager for Priderock Capital Management, confirmed they are the third owners of University Village Apartments in five years.
"We do not simply manage, we own it too," said Shelton in a statement to KRDO. "It gives us a vested interest in the success of the property since it is our own money on the line."
Tenants received a third letter from management saying the heating system is expected to be running again by Dec. 23 after "a delay in delivering the necessary pipe to the property."
But there are some worries over who is responsible for the upcoming electric bill, which residents are expecting to be much higher after constantly using space heaters provided by management.
"I am concerned and I did look at my usage online and the days that I had to use it more often, my electric use doubled," said resident Kristi Pritchard.
Shelton said “compensation for the electric bills has been discussed but not certain.”
Some residents have expressed their frustration by putting up flyers next to management's letters on the apartment entrances, saying they have the right to withhold rent if property owners don't provide adequate living conditions.
Colorado gives renters the right to withhold rent or even terminate their lease if a landlord is in breach of the Warranty of Habitability, which includes not having "functioning heating facilities" or any other "condition that is dangerous or hazardous to a Tenant’s life, health, or safety."
KRDO reached out to Colorado Springs Code Enforcement to see whether there are any filed formal complaints against the owners of University Village. We are waiting to hear back.
