Tenants of a 98-unit apartment complex in Colorado have hit their building’s management with a class action lawsuit after they say they were forced to live in unsanitary conditions, and then were suddenly evicted.
The lawsuit was filed Aug. 12, less than a week after the city’s abrupt closure of the complex on Aug. 6.
According to the city, the apartment complex had to be closed, due to “unsafe and unfit living conditions.” However, the sudden move left many residents scrambling for alternative housing, Fox31 reports.
As a result, the class action complaint alleges that tenants were unlawfully evicted without prior notice, leaving some at risk of homelessness.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for the tenants, citing two main grievances: unlawful eviction and a breach of the warranty of habitability, which ensures that rental properties meet basic living standards.
According to the lawsuit, the current property management company took control of the building in Dec. 2019.
Soon after, tenants began reporting serious issues, including a lack of heat, hot water, and pervasive vermin infestations, the lawsuit states. One resident reportedly documented a trash bag filled with mouse traps, each holding a trapped mouse.
The situation gained further attention in Dec. 2021 when FOX31 highlighted the apartment complex’s conditions, including a toilet that fell through a ceiling into one resident’s room, and residents living with mice, roaches, feces and trash in their common areas and in their homes.
Despite the reports, the management allegedly failed to address the growing list of complaints, which included black mold, broken windows, and electrical hazards.
CBZ Management, which oversees the property, has pointed to the presence of a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, as the reason for their inability to perform maintenance.
However, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman refuted this claim, stating that the complex’s issues predate the migrant crisis and blaming the problems on negligent out-of-state landlords.
City code enforcement inspections conducted in 2023 revealed hundreds of violations, yet many of these were reportedly not resolved despite multiple re-inspections, the lawsuit states.
It also claims that management stopped paying the water bill in July, adding to the tenants' woes.
The tenants are seeking financial relief, including compensation for living expenses and damages amounting to either three times their monthly rent or $5,000, along with court costs.
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