ORANGE, Texas — Officials with the City of Orange sent a letter to the owners of the Sabine Park Apartments that revealed more about the uninhabitable conditions at the complex.
It has been more than a month since pipes at the Sabine Park Apartment Homes froze and tenants lost water. Some tenants told 12News they feel like they are "living like animals."
Residents have been facing a multitude of issues. Some tenants do not have water and others are dealing with leaking pipes. Multiple units have water and sewage flowing from underneath into the street.
"For the tenants to be in this situation is very disturbing," Sandy Rolling, executive director of Texas Tenants' Union, said.
Several apartment units now have notices posted on the doors, stating they are uninhabitable.
The City of Orange sent a letter in regard to the ongoing issue to two addresses. One was sent to Sabine Portfolio’ LLC’s Abraham Wieder in Brooklyn, New York. The other is to Levi Gurevitch in Grapevine, Texas.
In the letter, officials state the office has received multiple complaints from Sabine Park Apartment tenants. The complaints centered around the “substandard living conditions” at the complex.
"It's usually not in upscale properties where people have deep pockets and the ability to move on short notice," Rolling said.
The office conducted health and welfare inspections of 10 buildings of the complex in response to the complaint.
Officials found that 48 units were uninhabitable due to conditions including:
- lacking functional water and sewer systems
- raw sewage spilling onto the ground
- excessive water leaks
- inoperative heating/cooling systems
- inoperative hot-water heaters
- broken windows
- non-operating electrical systems
The office also found that the 48 units were not structurally sound for human occupancy.
“Basically, we were not able to find a single building of the ten building inspections fit for human occupancy,” the letter says. “This situation requires your immediate attention.”
Related: 'It's terrible' : Sabine Park Apartment Homes resident describes living without water for 3 weeks
Trinity Multifamily/Asset Living, the company that had been managing the complex, terminated its agreement with the building's owners. There are still families living in the complex.
"The remaining families need your help," the letter says. "We suggest you assist these eleven families to move to a code-compliant dwelling unit within the property or release them to move out without penalty no later than February 3, 2023."
Rollins said despite the unlivable condition, tenants are locked into paying rent.
"In Texas, we don't have rent withholding," Rollins said. "No matter how bad the conditions are, so T think that's something the state of Texas, the state legislature, should enact, a provision. Most other states wouldn't require tenants to be paid up on their rent in situations like that, where the place is uninhabitable."
The letter states Sabine Portfolio LLC has until February 3, 2023, to reply on what actions they will take to bring these properties into compliance. If the city does not hear back, the city plan to take legal action.
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