Fire Victims Blast Apartment Management
posted 11:48 pm Tue March 25, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA
reporter:
Jeremy Mills
posted by:
Webteam
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New developments in the weekend fire at Lynchburg's Maple Ridge Apartments that left nine families homeless. Now, some of them say they're being mistreated in their greatest hour of need.
We met with them Tuesday. They say managers at the complex have been less than helpful. They actually used words like mean, malicious and cold-hearted. It all has to do with their lease, which they say managers told them burned up along with their apartments.
They say they've come together to deal with a tragedy. No, they're not talking about the fire that destroyed their homes and possessions. They say the real tragedy is intolerance by the employees at Maple Ridge Apartments.
Karen Wardrip, Lost Everything - "She said 'as of the day the fire took out your apartment, we have nothing else to do with you, your lease is null and void' and it could have knocked me over."
Yet they say they had several months left on their leases.
Crystal Clark, Fire Victim - "This is a tragedy to people who have lost their homes and they are very inconsiderate of that."
The women say they asked about moving into another apartment in the complex.
Wardrip, - "And she said, well you can come in and fill out an application and start over just like everyone else and I've been here 12 years."
Stephanie Ward, Fire Victim - "Most places, you have to have $1,000 to move in, how do you get $1,000 when you lost everything you have?"
Workers at Maple Ridge were removing mulch from around the apartment buildings. Firefighters say dry mulch and a cigarette butt started the fire. But these women say that's the past and they just want to be back in their community. They hope other renters learn a lesson from their hardship.
Ward - "Check ahead on everything, never take anything for granted and don't never assume anything because if you assume like here, you'll be disappointed."
We made several attempts to speak with the manager at Maple Ridge. She finally referred us to her Regional Manager and we're still waiting to hear from them.
However, we did speak with the Lynchburg Legal Aid Office. They told us, in general, fire does not terminate a renter's lease. By law, the landlord has to give 45 days notice to terminate it. But the ladies say Maple Ridge told them they have no available units. If that's true, the complex's responsibility comes into question, and it could come down to litigation.
We will continue to follow this story and bring you the updates when available.
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