PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Friday her office is suing the corporate landlord of a Valley apartment complex where tenants have been living without a functioning air conditioner.
Mayes previously gave Buenas Communities LLC until July 26 to fix the cooling issue at the apartment complex near Grand Avenue and Indian School Road. Despite installing a portable chiller, Mayes said Buenas Communities' temporary fixes are inadequate.
The attorney general is now taking legal action against the landlord, accusing them of not addressing or disclosing "pervasive issues" like crumbling infrastructure and bed bug infestations.
"Even a brief walk around the complex enables views of dripping water, broken doors, unsecure mailboxes, and past fire damage-- none of which is disclosed anywhere on the complex's website nor in the flyer advertising for the unit," the AG's complaint states.
The complaint alleges that when tenants voiced complaints about the complex, they faced threats of eviction from management.
Mayes' office is seeking a permanent injunction requiring Buenas Communities to make necessary repairs, as well as an injunction barring the defendant from renting to Arizona residents in the future.
“My office is committed to protecting Arizonans from unscrupulous landlords who neglect their legal responsibilities and put lives at risk,” Mayes said in a statement. "I will not stand by while vulnerable residents are subjected to such deplorable conditions.”
The apartment complex has already received several citations for allegedly violating Phoenix's cooling ordinance, city officials said.
*Editor's Note: The above video is from an earlier broadcast.*
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
UP TO SPEED