LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Update: On Wednesday, Sarah Horbacewicz returned to the Big Country Chateau Apartments to follow up on the situation from the day prior, and she learned the following:
Big Country Chateau management sent residents a letter on Wednesday that said there would be no stop in water service.
However, on that same day, Central Arkansas Water also said that the problem had not actually been solved, as faucets are still set to be shut off in about 6 weeks. This would potentially impact over 100 units at the complex.
Now residents, (many of whom say they don't have the funds to move somewhere else) are left searching for the next steps. Central Arkansas Legal Services said the current tenants have limited renter rights.
"In comparison to other states, renters' rights in Arkansas are very weak. I would say that we have the weakest habitability requirements in the country, meaning that we have the weakest protections for health and safety standards for those who rent their homes," Kendall Lewellan, Housing Subject Area Manager for the Center for Arkansas Legal Services explained.
The Center said that residents can reach out to them for free advice and that any resident in Section 8 housing can contact their case manager.
Little Rock City officials said they were aware of the situation in their regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday. Directors also mentioned possibly investigating the complex.
There is no clear timeline for a resolution right now but the water company said it needs to happen before September 1st.
In addition to water concerns, residents also continued to reference ongoing issues with bugs, mold, and faulty air conditioning, as well as describing a recurring problem of cleaning up blood stains from recent homicides.
THV11 reached out to Mayor Frank Scott Jr's office, Pulaski County Housing, and Big Country Chateau management for a response but they were not immediately available when first contacted after business hours. THV11 will continue to follow up on this story.
Residents at the Big Country Chateau apartments got a letter last week that in 2 months their water would be shut off. The letter came despite the fact that residents have already paid utilities included in their rent.
"This was really scary for me... When I came to the door, and I saw this, I said, oh my god, no water, you know, no, what am I gonna do? What are we going to do?", one resident shared.
Residents said there are other issues on the property right now, such as sanitation and safety.
"The roaches are so bad here. It's just like they are in the military..." the resident added, "right now you can still see some of the blood spots that was there from the last murder."
As of Tuesday, residents said that management's response was a note on their front office door that said there is no information about the "water".
"I haven't heard from him or seen him or nothing. And if you call they don't answer the phone," the resident added.
The official shut-off notice came directly from Central Arkansas Water, which is typically standard practice when there is a possibility of a shut-off.
"We were able to notify all the residents in full transparency that this is occurring," Samantha Williams with Central Arkansas Water said.
THV11 walked up to the manager's office and asked for answers— but didn't come up with anything concrete.
Management declined to go on camera but told us that the water shutoff notice was simply a miscommunication and has been resolved, despite their sign still claiming to not have information on the water.
However, Central Arkansas Water told us Tuesday that they are actually still working to resolve the issue.
The office would neither confirm nor deny if payment issues were a cause.
Management showed us a draft of a letter to be shared with residents on Wednesday, with management promising water will stay on among other property improvements like increased security.
Management did not clarify why they had not shared the information that water would stay on with concerned residents.
"We hope to come to a full resolution before anyone, unfortunately, would have to be without water service," Williams with Central Arkansas Water said.
While the water may be staying on, residents have continually pushed for changes at this complex, pointing out blood-stained sidewalks among other safety concerns.
"I'm really ashamed really to be living here. I just moved here for emergency purposes," the resident said.
While poor living conditions could possibly allow a resident to get out of their lease early, the Center for Arkansas Legal Services said that Arkansas renters' rights are limited and even if they did move out in a situation like this, they would not get any money for relocation.