INDIANAPOLIS — Jennifer Hill said the four-bedroom apartment she’s renting has caused nothing but headaches over the last year.
"I'm expected to pay rent. I just feel like my apartment should be safe," said Hill.
Hill lives at The Life at Belhaven Place on the east side of Indianapolis.
"It's already been two leaks, so this is actually like a third leak," Hill said, pointing to her kitchen ceiling.
It's concerning because of what happened during the first leak.
"I was coming from taking my kids to the bus stop. I'm literally walking past to go in my room, and it collapsed on me. Like, scariest thing that I've been through," said Hill.
Hill sued the property manager and won. Now, she fears her ceiling could collapse again.
"This is the same issue. What's going to happen next? How long is it going to take before this falls again? I don't know. I'm scared for my children to walk past," said Hill.
13News was there when an inspector from the Marion County Public Health Department arrived. That inspection revealed two violations of deteriorating ceiling conditions and leaking water.
Belhaven Place Owner LLC and regional manager, Blake Coots, based in New York, were ordered to make repairs by Dec. 7 or face fines up to $2,500.
Hill said repairs to the ceiling haven’t worked. The unit above her has been vacant. She wants maintenance to do a better job.
"They will come out. They will do something enough to get by and then, until the next problem arises. That's literally what I've experienced the whole year," said Hill.
Hill said another concern is mold in her daughter’s bedroom.
"I can't let her sleep in here. She has to share a room with my oldest daughter," said Hill.
Her 11-year-old has asthma.
"It's irritating. It's exhausting. I've expressed it to the property manager, the previous one and the new one. I've expressed it to the now assistant manager. I've emailed her. Countless emails. I just don't know what to do," said Hill.
13News reached out to Life Properties, who said interior and exterior upgrades are underway at the 248-unit apartment community.
They did not specifically address Hill’s concerns.
A spokesperson for The Life Properties shared the following statement:
"Following our purchase of The Life at Belhaven in 2022, we assessed the needs of the property and developed a $4.1M capital improvement program that is underway to enhance the quality of life for our residents, which will remedy issues inherited from the previous owner. We have an on-site property management and maintenance team that take pride in ensuring that resident maintenance requests are rectified as soon as received."