NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Renters in New Haven said they are sick and tired of being sick and tired as unhealthy conditions and quality of life issues continue to plague their apartment homes.
The New Haven tenants said they are dealing with mice, cockroaches, mold, and mushrooms growing from the walls. They are threatening legal action if the property manager doesn’t start paying attention.
Chilly temps outside didn’t stop the New Haven tenants from picketing Thursday. According to them, their apartments are just as cold.
Hannah Srajer, president of the Connecticut Tenants Union, said, “Some people don’t have bathroom doors. Folks have broken windows. There’s all sorts of pest infestations.”
The complaints are centered around two buildings on Quinnipiac Avenue and Eastern Street where the Connecticut Tenants Union represents about 45 units.
“We're all humans. We want a place to stay,” tenant Richard Machuca said. “We bust our butts to get that opportunity but you don’t see us like that. You see us like money.”
They said the property management company has refused to bargain a lease contract in good faith.
“Most of these folks, especially on the 530 Eastern side, are young families raising young children who just want a stable safe place to call home,” Srajer said.
Denise Noble is one of those tenants. She said she pays her rent but that the management company tried to evict her for no reason.
“I don’t think they realize they are playing with people’s lives,” Noble said. “I don’t think anybody is asking for anything unreasonable. If you have tenants paying their rent just do right by us because we are doing right by you.”
Tenants Union members held signs, chanted and marched outside the property management company offices.
The company, called Hammock Home Management, was formed just last month. Tenants claim it was simply a name change from the previous Ocean Property Management and that the same people are running the show.
“They rebranded but it’s still the same problems so they are kind of wasting money,” Noble said.
“Unfortunately they earned a pretty negative reputation for themselves due to mismanagement and the way they were treating tenants,” Srajer added.
As the tenants marched, they did so in front of a spread of coffee and danish. It was placed there by the property management company.
Hammock Home Management did not answer their door during an attempt to speak with them although people could be seen inside.
The tenants said they will continue to raise their collective voices until conditions improve, rent stabilizes and a new contract is agreed upon.
Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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