Buford says apartment complex "unfit for human habitation"

BUFORD, Ga. — The city of Buford has cited an entire apartment complex as being "unfit for human habitation."

Residents said there have been ongoing issues at the Hartford Run Apartments off Buford Highway for months.

"The roofs have not been repaired, there's a lot of mold and mildew damage," resident Lisa Hicks-Ellis told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh. "We've always had a problem with pests and roaches. Lots of times our water has been off because of water pipelines breaking and things like that."

A Channel 2 Action News camera captured rotted wood, what appeared to be mold on walls and numerous blue tarps on roofs.

"I'm not only worried about myself, but the hundreds of people that live here. There's a lot of people with families, children, disabled people on fixed incomes," Hicks-Ellis said.

The city of Buford has issued notices.

This week, code enforcement tacked an abatement sign on the leasing office, putting a timetable on a number of repairs.

The sign said the buildings right now are "unfit for human habitation."

"They haven't put any notification out to any of the residents here," said Hicks-Ellis.

Kavanaugh went to the leasing office, but it was locked. She called and emailed the office and called the management's corporate headquarters in Alabama. We're still awaiting a response.

Buford city officials did not want to do an on-camera interview. In a statement, they said, "The city of Buford has issued the apartment complex a citation that it is in our professional opinion; it is in violation of several city codes in regards to property management."

"I do believe if you're paying rent a place someplace you do have the expectation of living in a humane and habitable environment and that's not what we're getting here," Hicks-Ellis said.

The city says it has been working with the complex for several months to get things up to code. Now the complex management has a July court date.

Hartford Run residents do not need to relocate at this point. Many are concerned they may have to if the issues are not addressed.

WSBTV