'Someone could die' | Prince George's County Council Member demands accountability after numerous complaints of no AC

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. — All week long, WUSA9 has been reporting on AC issues at apartment complexes in Prince George's County.

On Thursday night, North Hills Apartments issued an apology to the residents who told WUSA9 they hadn't had AC for more than two months. But, after our reporting, we started getting messages from dozens of people across the county who were dealing with similar issues.

On Friday night, WUSA9 visited Michael Boone's apartment at Hickory Hill Apartments in Suitland, Maryland. Technically his air conditioning unit works, but the problem is if he turns it on, he gets a mess.

"If I do run it,  it'll leak all through here," said Boone as he showed WUSA9 his soaked carpet.

He tells WUSA9 it's been this way for two to three months and despite contacting his management company repeatedly, he hasn't been given a date for when repairs will be completed. They have however given him a portable AC unit. But, he says it doesn't do much to help.

"If it's gonna get hotter, it's gonna get smellier in here day by day," said Boone.

WUSA9 also met with Prince George's County Council Member Krystal Oriadha. She represents District 7, which includes North Hill Apartments and Capital Crossing Apartments in District Heights. She introduced us to a family who lives at Capital Crossing Apartments. Their thermostat read 82 degrees Friday night.

"Next week it's 100 degrees. It's gonna feel like 112 in my apartment," said one of the tenants.

Oriadha says there needs to be accountability for these apartment complexes.

"These circumstances that we're seeing not only here, but across the county are deplorable standards," she told WUSA9.

Which is why, she says she's working on legislation.

"We have to do things from a legislative perspective. We have to hold them accountable. When we see violations like this, they should be at the highest penalty possible," she said.

"That's one of the reasons I went to the state and advocated to make sure we could raise our fines from a minimum of $1,000 to $5,000 per infraction. I'm working on tenant rights legislation right now," said Oriadha.

She says there also needs to be more enforcement by the county.

"If they're not being enforced, not being regulated, then there's no incentive to stop doing it," she said.

She says she's reached out to Capital Crossing Apartments and their corporate office, but has yet to receive a response, calling the "lack of communication and accountability unacceptable".

WUSA9 spoke to a worker at Capital Crossing, who asked for his identity not to be disclosed.

"Our company is trying to do what they can to replace all of the conditioners," he explained.

WUSA9 asked the worker how it got so bad that so many AC units went out.

The worker told WUSA9, "People don't know how to use it. They think by lowering it down to 60 they gonna have more colder air. It doesn't work like that".

Oriadha told WUSA9, she's glad so many people are speaking up about this and encourages more people to speak up.

"Someone could die, that's the reality here. So, if we don't take swift action, create tenant advocacy groups, tell your neighbors, and really make sure they feel the pressure to do the right thing,"

If you are dealing with no AC in your apartment complex, she says you should contact 311.