'We have to do better' | Calls for accountability from Prince George's County after apartment AC issues

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — For the past week and a half, WUSA9 has heard from so many of you who have been struggling to find relief from the heat, because your AC is not working.

We've highlighted the issue at complexes in Suitland, Temple Hills and District Heights, but we've heard from people all over the southern part of Prince George's County.

One of those complexes is North Hills Apartments in District Heights. On Monday night, a spokesperson for the the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) told WUSA9 that North Hills Apartments had been issued a violation notice would have to come into compliance by July 18.  If they didn't they could face fines, but the county wouldn't elaborate on exactly what consequences if any they would face.  

Prince George's County told WUSA9 Thursday night that North Hills Apartments "has come into compliance", but didn't respond to our request on clarification.

Thursday morning residents of North HIlls Apartments in District Heights, received a letter from property management that read as follows:

Dear Residents of North Hills,

We are writing to update you on our efforts to keep all HVAC units operational during the continued heat wave in the Maryland area.

As of the end of Tuesday, we have closed approximately 60% of all HVAC work tickets through either repairs or replacement units. While this is progress, we know there is more work to complete and we are working as quickly as possible to expedite this process.

We are also continuing to employ all available HVAC contractors and other outside help to supplement the efforts of the North Hills team.  

For residents awaiting repairs:

Portable air conditioning units have been installed in all units with non-working air conditioning. If you do not have a working HVAC unit and do not have a portable unit, please contact the management team immediately at (240) 455-7518.

The model unit at 6501 Hil-Mar Drive is available as an emergency cooling center for residents needing refuge from the heat.

The pool and pool house are open for use by residents. Please ensure you have wristbands and check in with the lifeguard upon arrival.

We appreciate your help by keeping thermostats set no lower than 69 degrees to reduce strain on the HVAC systems. We also encourage you to close curtains and blinds to block out the sun and lower inside temperatures.

Please reach out to the North Hills management team at (240) 455-7518 if you need to submit a maintenance request or have additional questions.

Sincerely,

The Franklin Johnston Group

In a statement to WUSA9 Thursday night, a PR firm representing North Hills Management wrote the following:

"We have worked collaboratively with DPIE over the last week to restore air conditioning to all units. We will continue to communicate updates on our progress to residents and DPIE."

Throughout WUSA9's reporting on the lack of properly working AC units at North Hills, a bigger issues was brought to light. We found that this was happening at dozens of complexes all over Prince George's County.

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

At Capital Crossing Apartments in District Heights, WUSA9 spoke to a family who also didn't have a working AC unit.

Less than 48 hours after WUSA9's report, Prince George's County Council Member Krystal Oriadha shared that their AC unit had been repaired.

In an interview Thursday Oriadha told WUSA9 enough isn't being done to hold these property owners accountable.

"This is the consequence of continued lack of enforcement.  If these apartments were constantly be regulated, would we be here where we have apartment complexes around the county with sub standard units? Where we have no working AC in one of the hottest summers," she questioned.

She told WUSA9 she plans to introduce legislation that would impose consequences on property owners who don't provide fair housing conditions to their tenants.

"We want to have developers and businesses come into the county but not at any cost. Not meaning that you can treat our residents like anything, that there's no standards or no accountability. We have to do better at striking a balance. It's been too long that we have not been holding these apartment complex accountable for the standards they're providing for residents here in Prince George's County," said Oriadha.

WUSA9 has reached out to Prince George's County DPIE multiple times since July 10.

We've asked to join DPIE at upcoming inspections, so we can show what it is they do during these inspections. We were told 'no'.

We've asked for an interview with the agency that does the inspections and enforcement. That interview request has not been fulfilled.

We've asked for a list of the complexes that DPIE has been called to inspect, as well as a list of the complexes that have received violation notices. That request has not been fulfilled.

Instead, a spokesperson for the county told WUSA9 that this "is an important piece of how we’re building climate resilience". They told WUSA9 that the heat has impacted trash collection in the county and even forced the temporary evacuation of a senior housing community.

They told WUSA9 there "is an emerging issue with property managers and how they quickly and effectively respond to residents in extreme heat. We’re being intentional about developing a path forward. They also . You’ll get the press release when it’s ready. We won’t have further commenting too then".

WUSA9 continued to press for answers and the county spokesperson shared that "this is a massive issue", they explained that they "are working on gathering resources and developing messaging to communicate to residents and property owners and managers about what to do. We’ll circle back with you when those materials are ready and make sure you get them."