HARTFORD, Conn. — Hartford and Connecticut Tenant Unions and advocates are calling on a New Jersey-based landlord to negotiate with its tenants.
Dozens of advocates stood in solidarity with the Hartford residents who call 267 and 271 Wethersfield Avenue home to demand action from the new property owners.
The residents said their living conditions are deplorable and their rent shouldn’t be increased until these issues are resolved.
Tenants said they are facing rent hikes of $200, but the owners of the building haven’t fixed the conditions they are living in. They said they haven’t seen the new owners in person or spoken with them over the phone either.
“I do believe this is the land of opportunities, but unfortunately, we are living in conditions that are very similar that what I left at home,” said Alberto Gomez through a translator. Gomez has lived in this building for 16 years after coming to Hartford from Mexico.
Gomez said the list of issues he, his wife, and kids are facing is staggering: from mold to bugs in their homes to leaking roofs.
Tenants said they want the new owners to meet and negotiate a housing contract with them due to the conditions they are living in.
“We are here to negotiate as a community for our families,” said one tenant.
In the last two years, according to the tenants, they’ve had two owners. The current owner as of July is Arlington Management Group LLC based out of New Jersey.
“It is almost impossible to find the current owner of the building or someone that can help us," a tenant said.
The city of Hartford said one way they can help tenants is if they call 311 and file a complaint about the conditions.
“We will make a list of any problems at the property, and we will create a requirement called a notice of violation that the landlord is responsible to respond to with corrections of the violations,” said Judith Rothschild.
FOX61 also tried getting in contact with the owners at Arlington Management Group and is waiting to hear back.
DeAndria Turner is a multi-media journalist at FOX61 News. She can be reached at dturner@fox61.com.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.