Residents at Sanctuary at Winterlakes Apartments in Port St. Lucie said they have been living with unresolved maintenance issues and that their requests for help are being ignored. Alison Malio walked through her apartment pointing out what she believes is structural damage in her bedroom and damage she described as rot near the foundation. She also said her freezer seal was damaged and has cost her over $1,500 in lost food over the last year and a half to two years. Malio also showed a cockroach problem inside her apartment and building and said pest control only comes once every 13 weeks.
Malio said she and her neighbors submit maintenance requests through an online portal, but she claims those requests go unanswered or get deleted and are sometimes marked complete even when no work has been done. Malio said she has cameras and a ring doorbell so she knows if maintenance comes to look at issues. She said it has been six or seven years of the property management doing nothing to help residents.
Across the parking lot, neighbor Cheryl Jones said her air conditioning was out for nine weeks. Jones said it was too hot in her apartment to cook and she could only make breakfast with her coffee maker and toaster. Jones said maintenance eventually fixed the air conditioning, but mold had grown inside her apartment.
Jones sent a report from a company that tested her unit and found evidence of mold, recommending that drywall, insulation and other materials be removed. Jones said she sent that report to property management but has not heard anything back.
Property management sent a statement saying they are looking into the issues and that they prioritize the safety and well-being of tenants. When asked why they do not move, both Malio and Jones said they cannot afford to go anywhere else. Jones said she has nowhere to go.