CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's been a week since Dquayvion Cloud said he first noticed a small leak coming from the ceiling at his east Charlotte apartment. Hours later, he said that leak led to a large part of the ceiling caving in.
Cloud said after living at HillRock Estates for two years he knew to immediately call apartment maintenance for an emergency like this, but he told WCNC Charlotte at first, maintenance wasn't much help.
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“On-site maintenance finally comes, he peeps in and says, 'Oh OK,' and leaves," Cloud said. "We don’t see on-site maintenance for the rest of the day.”
Cloud said in the days that followed, he made multiple calls to the leasing office and even had to stay at family and friends' homes for nearly a week before maintenance came Wednesday afternoon to repair the ceiling.
“She’s like, 'You can sleep in your apartment in the living room, and I’m like, 'I think that’s unsafe,'" Cloud said. "I can’t sleep in my household, there’s damage right now."
But Cloud told WCNC Charlotte the ceiling wasn't the only damage. The leak from the second-floor water heater also spread to parts of his living room and storage unit ruining items like his bed frame, desk and stored winter clothes. He's now hopeful for some compensation on behalf of the apartment complex.
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"I know I have renter’s insurance, but I also know when it comes to faulty equipment it’s supposed to be on y'all," Cloud said.
Management at HillRock Estates told WCNC Charlotte they have agreed to pay half of April's rent. No word yet on if damages will be covered.
The regional manager for Virginia-based S.L. Nusbaum Realty, the company that owns HillRock Estates, also provided this statement to WCNC Charlotte on Thursday:
Unfortunately, Mr. Cloud’s apartment was flooded due to an upstairs water heater that failed. It is understandable that he is upset. We responded promptly and are actively working to return his apartment to its condition and anticipate it will be fully repaired by Friday, March 18. We encouraged Mr. Cloud to make a claim to his renters insurance policy to cover his personal belongings. Additionally, we are covering a portion of his rent for the inconvenience this has caused him.
On Friday, Cloud told WCNC Charlotte maintenance crews had come to repair the damage in his home. He said he sees progress with the repairs, but it's not complete.
Contact Briana Harper at bharper@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.