Repeat water leak escalates to potential court battle for University Heights couple
Walter and Melanie Slaughter have lived at their apartment on Andrews Avenue North for more than a decade. Now, the markers of water are once again bubbling up on the ceiling in their bathroom and kitchen. On one occasion, they say water came gushing through a pipe like a “waterfall.”
More Stories
A University Heights couple say they’ve been battling a water leak from the apartment above them for years. What they thought would be a simple fix is escalating to a potential court battle.
Walter and Melanie Slaughter have lived at their apartment on Andrews Avenue North for more than a decade. Now, the markers of water are once again bubbling up on the ceiling in their bathroom and kitchen. On one occasion, they say water came gushing through a pipe like a “waterfall.”
Their building is managed by Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation, which runs several other buildings in The Bronx. The Slaughter family says they’ve notified Fordham-Bedford as well as the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) multiple times about the leak. HPD has issued 43 violations to the property and could move forward with emergency repairs for the Slaughters.
Sam Martinez, director of specialized Housing at Fordham-Bedford, said in a phone call that the delay in repairs is because the source of the leak is coming from the apartment above and that the tenant living there would not allow management access into the apartment. New York tenants are legally required to let a landlord into their apartment to make necessary repairs, as long as it is under reasonable hours and with proper advanced notice. Refusal to do so can get you evicted.
Martinez said the housing corporation is now pursuing legal action against that tenant and are asking the Slaughters to do the same.
“This is something that's going to have to play out in court because there is damage to his apartment that I'm going to have to fix. But it was damages that we really didn't create,” said Martinez. “We're doing everything possible to try to gain access.”
However, the couple says they do not believe that is their responsibility.
“Even if the neighbor upstairs is doing something, they need to step in and address the neighbor. [Management] keeps telling me I need to take the neighbor upstairs to court. Why should I be getting in a dispute with my neighbor?” Walter Slaughter told News 12. “This is their property.”
After News 12 took action Slaughter said management was “suddenly” able to get into the apartment above and would be sending a plumber back to his apartment, which he hopes is a step in the right direction.
