INDIANAPOLIS — With the temperature dropping, you may be turning your heat on for the first time. However, that can also be the moment you realize it doesn't work.
At the Irvington Lofts Apartments, residents did not have heat for weeks, but the management team tells 13News they are upgrading their HVAC systems and will be done in a couple of weeks.
Amy Nelson, executive director of Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, said many of the calls they receive are for situations like this.
"It's probably our two most (common) type of complaints we get from renters, is that rent is going up and it's not affordable or they have some sort of repair habitability type issue," she said.
Nelson's team provides advocacy and education on housing discrimination issues. She said many people do not know who to contact if utility problems arise.
"Some people may not be aware of their rights to contact city of public health, inspection type programs so when people contact us with those type of concerns we are able to provide them with the information to make that type of contact," she said.
The Marion County Health Department tells 13News they want renters to contact their property management teams first. If there are no changes over time, they are encouraged to fill out this complaint form or contact the Housing and Neighborhood Health division (317) 221-2141 to file a complaint.