CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Residents at the Sterling Apartments, located off Alameda Street, have reportedly been without hot water and heat for several months.
One tenant contacted 3NEWS through our Tell 3 form and wished to remain anonymous. She said that she has been experiencing issues with water and heat for the past six months.
"I have to wash my dishes in cold water and it's a hassle," she said.
Another resident, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said that she has also had her fair share of bad experiences with hot water in her unit.
"It's never really been hot," she said. "Like, it warms up, but it just stays lukewarm. We've been boiling water for baths."
In situations like these, what can renters do?
It's something Better Business Bureau Director of Education Katie Galan said starts with knowing your rights as a renter.
"So, your landlord -- whether that's from an apartment or renting a home from somebody -- typically the state of Texas gives a time of about seven days," she said.
Knowing this time frame can actually save tenants headaches in the long run.
"Your air conditioning, your heating—your water, those type of things that you need to live everyday," she said. "Those repairs need to be made within seven days, but there are some steps you need to take in order for those repairs to be made."
City of Corpus Christi Assistant Director of Compliance Tracy Cantu said that code enforcement also plays a pivotal role when it comes to property management.
"Hot water not being provided, there is a requirement for there to be hot water facilities in all buildings," she said.
Cantu said that if renters have a complaint, they can report it to the city's 311 app. Once it's in the system, her team can then begin its investigation.
If a landlord is found to be at fault, the her department will step in.
"A correction notice (will be sent) to the property owner, advising them that they have time and giving them the opportunity to correct those violations," she said.
Until investigations are completed at The Sterling, though, those tenants said they can only hope that things get better.
"Taking a cold shower sucks, but I just care about the children that live here and the elderly that live here," said one of the women 3NEWS spoke with.
3NEWS reached out to management at the Sterling Apartments, which provided the following statement:
Our team is actively working to address a limited number of units that do not currently have heat. Corrosive plumbing lines, which can be common with a property of this vintage, have affected a small number of units. The full scope of the repair work is extensive, and we are sourcing partners who have the resources to restore the plumbing lines as quickly as possible. We have communicated the repair status to all impacted residents. We are also working with affected residents to transfer to new units onsite and have granted appropriate concessions to those that could not transfer to another unit. We realize this is a difficult inconvenience to some of our valued residents and will continue to respond promptly throughout the hardship.
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