INDIANAPOLIS — As the heat ramps up throughout the week, people living at an apartment complex on the city’s west side are struggling to stay cool.
FOX59/CBS4 first reported on air conditioning issues at Cloverleaf Apartments last month after reports of copper wiring thefts, but people living there said it is an issue that has been going on for quite a while longer.
“It’s like a lose-lose,” described Vanessa Matthews, whose son lives at the complex. “He’s just in here suffering in this heat. He needs help right now. I mean, the fans don’t even help it’s so hot.”
Inside her son’s apartment, you can hear the air vent, but you cannot feel it. His thermostat also sits at an uncomfortable 84 degrees.
“He’s just not winning, no way,” Matthews said. “If he’s in the house, he’s hot. He’s outside, he’s hot. So, at the moment he just sits in the house with his shirts off.”
Matthews said the AC has not worked since her son moved in two years ago. She said they have tried calling property managers, but it is still not fixed. Others have had similar issues.
“Nothing was going on,” said Hilda Savostins. “I went weeks and then months without any AC.”
Savostins said she has lived at the apartment for 10 years and has had issues almost every year. Most recently, she said her AC broke earlier in the spring.
“If you’re not willing to spend XYZ amount of money to fix my apartment, then why should I have to pay you rent on the first of the month,” she said.
Property managers spoke with FOX59/CBS4 over the phone and said they have dealt with hundreds of copper wire thefts. Those living there said the thefts might only be part of the problem. Cloverleaf managers said they have hired contractors and are trying to take care of every unit on the list.
After months of waiting, Savostins said she finally called the health department, which helped resolve the issue.
“I would say just call the inspector as well,” she said. “And just maintain and stay on top of it. Just do it. If that’s what you got to do to get things done, then do it.”
The Marion County Public Health Department said any violation for no AC is considered an emergency order when temperatures get this hot. According to the department, when the violation is issued, the owner or property manager has 24 hours or up to 72 hours under certain circumstances to make the repairs before the case gets referred to its legal department.
The department said people can call the housing complaint line at 317-221-2141 to register a complaint and file for an inspection.
