A monthslong water and fungal growth problem in the hallways of an Atlanta apartment building has left residents stressed and dealing with slippery floors.
Residents at the Washington at Historic Westside Village told Channel 2 Action News that the response so far has been paper and cardboard laid over wet spots instead of repairs.
Here's what to know
What tenants described to Channel 2 Action News was a long-running moisture problem affecting common areas, including hallways and stairwells. They said the water has left floors slick and coincided with visible growth on the walls, and reporters said part of the ceiling looked as if it were deteriorating.
Angela Vaughn said the issue has lasted long enough for the hallway outside her unit to become soaked.
To show what the building looked like when the water problem first started, Vaughn sent Channel 2 Action News' Eryn Rogers a video.
"It's been like this two months," Vaughn said. "It stinks. The hallway in our unit has gotten wet."
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Another resident, Janet Nations, said, "It was water leaking up out the floor, and it kept getting worse and worse and worse."
She added that she was unsure what caused the water, saying, "I think the foundation is messed up."
The conditions have also raised health and safety concerns. Nations explained that she has already taken several falls, and Vaughn said her brother, who shares her unit, has needed hospital care. She said she suspected the growth and whatever fumes it produces are affecting his health. Nations also worried about what residents may be breathing in.
More background
Residents said the lack of response has become nearly as frustrating as the water itself. Vaughn said tenants have reached out to the homeowners association and property management multiple times with no meaningful follow-up.
"We've contacted management. They haven't reached back out or anything. It's been voicemail, voicemail," she said.
Rogers said she had also been trying to reach property management since early September without a response. During its reporting, Channel 2 documented puddles in a stairwell, growth on the walls, and damage to part of the ceiling — evidence residents said suggested the problem was getting worse, not better.
HOAs, building owners, and landlords across the country have drawn criticism for a lack of initiative, as well as for blocking money-saving home updates such as rooftop solar panels or native plant lawns. Sometimes, working with the relevant parties can instigate positive change for the good of the community.
What's being done?
Channel 2 Action News independently observed visible damage inside the property and said that its outreach to management had gone unanswered.
Residents said the on-site response has been limited to covering wet areas with paper and cardboard rather than providing a repair plan.
Residents said they want repairs made before anyone else gets hurt or sick.
For Nations, the concern is already personal: "I'm already coughing, so I am concerned about being sick."
Vaughn was similarly blunt, noting, "It's nasty, germy, dangerous, and it's ridiculous."
Where can I learn more?
Similar disputes have left other renters dealing with challenges.
• In DeKalb County, Georgia, water shut-offs left residents without service for weeks during an HOA dispute.
• One homeowner said an HOA dumps water onto the property whenever heavy rain hits.
• A neighbor's sump pump kept getting worse as runoff destroyed the yard.
• One HOA's pressure-washing mandate sparked backlash over grievous home maintenance policy rules.
• A renter refused to comply after an HOA made an outrageous demand for property photos.
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