A tenant is seeking a new place to live after receiving an eviction notice after years without hot water.
Houston resident Jimmy Thompson said he has not had consistent hot water in the six years he has lived in his apartment building in Houston, Texas.
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Even when the water is hot, it's rarely hot enough, he said.
The tenant pulled out a thermometer to prove the lukewarm water was no higher than 78 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NBC affiliate KPRC-TV.
“When I have to boil water just to shower, it still isn't as hot as it should be,” Thompson explained to the outlet.
“Plus, I have to watch my light bill.”
After years of getting cold water from his home faucets on and off, Thompson decided to raise the issue with property managers at the Falls of Edgebrook apartment complex.
After concerns were raised, Thompson received a 30-day notice to vacate his apartment.
“Due to this ongoing issue of your dissatisfaction with the water temperature, we will be releasing you from the lease,” the email said.
Thompson and his sister are now left scrambling for a place to live.
The tenant said he was shocked by the message asking him to leave the complex.
“I was at work when I got the email,” he said.
“I just broke into tears.”
A representative at the complex's management office told KPRC-TV that Thompson and his sister were evacuated so the water heater could be repaired.
However, the notice sent to Thompson blamed his eviction on his problems with water temperature.
Another resident called KPRC-TV and reported that he had received an eviction notice after complaining about mold.
How common is eviction in the United States?
Millions of families receive an eviction notice every year.
The Eviction Lab at Princeton University estimates that for every 100 renter households, about 7.8 evictions are filed each year.
The Eviction Lab tracks filings across 10 states and 36 cities.
In a normal year, landlords file about 3.6 million evictions.
Source: Evacuation Laboratory
The apartment complex did not respond to The US Sun's request for comment.
Attorney Eric Quartler of Lone Star Legal Aid told the outlet that the situation could be a case of retaliatory eviction.
Retaliatory eviction is illegal in Texas.
A retaliatory eviction is filed for reasons other than non-payment of rent or property damage.
Quartler said it's important for residents to document repair requests sent to their landlord.
Legal experts recommend documenting requests in writing and sending repair requests via certified mail.
