Taking Action: Concourse Village man says apartment fire could have been prevented after years of leaks
Michael showed News 12 years of 311 and HPD complaints documenting the ongoing leaks.
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A Concourse Village man says he repeatedly warned his landlord about water leaking through his ceiling — a leak he says was hitting his light fixtures and causing his electricity to flicker. Hours after his latest complaint, he says his apartment went up in flames.
“It was very scary," the man, who only went by Michael said. "My heart was beating really really fast. I felt very scared. Worried about myself, my property, my neighbors,” he said.
Michael showed News 12 years of 311 and HPD complaints documenting the ongoing leaks. He also shared video from before the fire showing water pooling in his light fixtures.
He says the building's super repeatedly patched the problem, but the leaks never stopped.
“They just patched up the work," he said. "So even after the repairs, you continue to have leaks. It continues afterwards and then you see the sparks on the lights,” he said.
On Dec. 5, after reporting another leak, Michael says his apartment caught fire.
“Eventually it spread all over my bathroom, my living room, towards the window coming towards the front of the entrance," he recalled. "That water came everywhere and all I remember is seeing sparks when I ran back in because a gentleman told me that my apartment was on fire. So when I ran back inside, I realized that all the smoke was coming from the ceiling."
Michael has no renter’s insurance and is staying in an HPD emergency shelter.
“I’m very worried about my future… where I’m going to rest," he admitted. "We just want landlords to communicate with us. We have a right to live in a safe environment somewhere we can call home."
He says he has been unable to reach GENYC Realty LLC, the company that owns the building. News 12 called and emailed the company but has not yet received a response.
HPD says it is investigating the case, and FDNY fire marshals are working to determine the cause of the fire.
