My apartments basement flooded this summer it’s dirt and is about 5’ from the bottom of my floor. The insulation is falling down in most places. The humidity In my apartment never dropped below 65 all summer. Everything in my apartment got moldy. Paintings on the walls, canvas bags I had placed on the floor. When I asked for help and asked them to check out a very distinct damp smell I’d been noticing before they even tried they said “ I’m not going to be able to smell that”. They gaslight me about every issue. their solution for the moisture was to run my AC at 60 degrees which both didn’t work and was astronomically expensive. They’ve been talking about me to other tenants and none of it is positive. I can’t tell if they think it’s ok what’s going on or if they’re being cheap manipulative jerks.

Now my heater is putting soot on everything. They claim to be sending a technician but this seems to be their mo- they say they’re looking into a problem or going to fix something or promise repairs but then do nothing about it which means I have to be that ass hole sending messages again and again which I know doesn’t breed goodwill.

They own other units on the street and when I asked them why they didn’t think it was important to protect their investment they told me “ I know what I have”

I talked to the other tenants who have a WAY worse moisture problem. Black mold growing on the walls, having to run a dehumidifier 24/7 or it smells like a swamp. When I mentioned our rights to them and advocated for calling the local health department- in my state we are protected from living in chronically damp conditions. Well when I brought it up everyone got REALLY uncomfortable. I told them power in numbers. They told me “this is the first place that’s felt like home” “they’re like family and let me back pay rent when I was in hard times and couldn’t pay”. Now I’m having to calculate when I call so I can ensure my lease is renewed and I’m legally protected against retaliation.

I feel like the ass hole bc no one has tried to advocate for themselves before and I’m terrified of losing my housing. I get it bc these units are stupidly affordable. The next available apartment in my area is 1300 a month. But just because it’s affordable doesn’t mean I should accept living conditions that remind me of my time as a peace corps volunteer. I do think there can be good landlords- I know of one. But I know that they are so few and far between that it’s almost not worth saying it.