Mississippi tenants lose water in triple-digit heat as landlord's unpaid bill tops $300,000

When a landlord falls behind on utility bills, renters can pay the price in one of the most basic ways possible: losing access to water.

In west Jackson, Mississippi, tenants at Addison Place Apartment Homes say they have been without water since before July 23, according to Mississippi Today, even as temperatures hit triple digits.

Here's what to know

JXN Water cut service to the complex after the property's unpaid bills rose into the six figures. 

Hinds County tax records identified the owner as Jackson Addison SPV LLC, a company based in New Jersey.

Resident Trendarius Burns, who lives at Addison Place with his three sons, said the shutoff has disrupted everyday life.

"You don't realize how much you need water until you don't have it," Burns told the outlet.

Because cooking at home has become difficult, Burns said his food costs have increased to about $40-$50 per day. 

His family also has to shower somewhere else, while management provides about two cases of bottled water each week and maintenance workers fill toilets with water so they can be flushed.

More background

At an Aug. 6 City Council committee meeting, Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote said it was "appalling" that renters who paid rent lost water service because of the owner's debt.

Speaking at the meeting, Robert Brunson, the city's manager of Code Enforcement, acknowledged that 45 residents at the complex were without water while 16 still had it. 

He also indicated that the unpaid bill exceeded $300,000 and that the property manager wanted to dispute the charges.

Mississippi Today noted that JXN Water has shut off service to other apartment complexes when owners had large unpaid balances and could or would not work out payment plans. 

In Addison Place's case, the utility said it had contacted the owner's legal team "to no avail."

"There still has not been a payment initiated on the account," JXN Water spokesperson Aisha Carson told the outlet.

What's being done?

Brunson said his department had dealt with other unresolved issues at the same complex. 

The water problem reached the City Council committee after residents drew attention to it and Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley raised the matter.

For people trying to work with landlords or property associations to update outdated policies, it may be worth exploring resources on changing bylaws.

Meanwhile, Burns told Mississippi Today that he is planning to move, even though he otherwise liked living there.

"They're some good apartments, we ain't never had no problem. It's just the water," Burns stated. "It's just uncalled for."

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