A RENTER is scrambling for a new place to live after he was slapped with an eviction notice following years without hot water.
Resident Jimmy Thompson said he’s never had consistent hot water in the six years he’s lived in his apartment building in Houston, Texas.
He said even when the water is hot, it’s rarely hot enough.
The renter pulled out a thermometer to prove the lukewarm water – and the temperature didn’t go above 78 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NBC affiliate KPRC-TV.
“When I have to boil water just to bathe, it still doesn’t get as hot as it should,” Thompson explained to the outlet.
“Plus, I have to watch my light bill.”
After years of getting cold water out of his faucets on and off, Thompson decided to raise the issue with his property managers at the Falls of Edgebrook apartment complex.
After bringing up the concerns, Thompson was served a 30-day notice to vacate his apartment.
“Due to this ongoing issue with the temperature of the water not satisfying you, we will be releasing you from the lease agreement,” the email said.
Thompson and his sister are now left scrambling for a place to live.
The renter said he was shocked by the message requesting him to leave the complex.
“I was at work when I got the email,” he said.
“I just broke out into tears.”
A representative at the complex’s management office told KPRC-TV that Thompson and his sister were being vacated so the water heater could be repaired.
However, the notice sent to Thompson blamed his eviction on his problems with the water temperature.
Another resident approached KPRC-TV and reported they received an eviction notice after complaining about mold.
How common is eviction in the US?
Millions of households receive an eviction notice each year.
The Eviction Lab at Princeton University estimated that per 100 renting households, about 7.8 evictions were filed each year.
The Eviction Lab tracks filings across 10 states and 36 cities.
In a typical year, landlords file about 3.6 million eviction cases.
Source: The Eviction Lab
The apartment complex hasn’t responded to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
Lawyer Eric Kwartler of Lone Star Legal Aid told the outlet the situation could be a case of retaliatory eviction.
Retaliatory eviction is illegal in Texas.
A retaliatory eviction is filed over reasons besides missing rent payments or property damage.
Kwartler said it’s important for residents to document repair requests sent to their landlord.
Legal experts advise documenting requests in writing and sending repair requests through certified mail.
