I have lived at Huntington Park Apartments in Everett for over 5 years. This property is owned and managed by Equity Residential, the Nations largest publicly held apartment rental business. The newest District Manager, I will call him "Mr. Grinch", is based at their Tukwilla Office, has a new policy. NO HEAT IN THE BUILDINGS- Common areas, halls and stairwells.

When I first moved in, the heat was turned on when it got cold. Then 2 years ago, I noticed that no matter what the temperature was, the heaters were not turning on. I voiced my concern and the Site Manager- mind you, there have been 2 new managers that have come and gone since then, and she had the heaters turned on. Then last year the some thing happened. It got cold- and I mean in the low 30's and the heaters were not working, so I complained again, and the Manager said the Policy was that they would only turn on the heat if it was freezing or below in my book that's 32 degrees - for 2 or more consecutive days.

Now I have seen the weather change to cold again and called and asked for the Site Manager the office and he wasn't in, I talked with the Agent. I asked that the heat be turned on in the building, as it was their policy, because it is going to be freezing tonight and tomorrow. She said the Manager wasn't in. She asked if she could help me and I asked her if she could have the heat turned on in the building. She said that they had gotten an e-mail last month, from the new District Manager, that they would not be heating any common areas, hallways or stairways- period.

My apartment shares 2 walls with theses common areas, and 2 walls with the outside and one with the apartment next door, and it gets so cold that this time of year, that my built in heaters cannot keep up with the cold. I asked her for the name of the District Manger that last year turned on the heat once it was officially FREEZING for 2 days in a row - and she said there was a new District Manager. Now she said she would not give me his phone number or address but she did say the Corporate office was in Tukwilla and said she would call him and ask about the no heat policy and call me back.

She called me back shortly and said that they would turn on the heat, only if it was 25 degrees or below for 2 consecutive days. And then only in my building. I guess the squeaky wheel gets some cold lard.

Well Mr. "Grinch", this is a family setting, there are children in many, many buildings, including my downstairs neighbors. There are over 10 buildings at this site alone, with over 10 apartments per building, and the halls and stairwells are very, very cold, as is my apartment. What people will do is bring in space heaters, candles or God forbid, heat with charcoal to try and stay warm, and then we all know that accidents will happen.

But you Dear, Mr. District Manager, really don't care about that do you' Your company has raised my rent every year - 5% is the going rate every year, and your Manager said last year that by turning off the heat you saved $800,000.00 a year. That must have made your share holders very, very happy. Your stock must have soared on your rental rate increases and cost cutting. But, what is the true cost of one family or one Childs life because you put profits above common decency'

You re a mean one Mr. Grinch.

Shivering in Everett.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/30/2007
It sounds like you want someone to assist you with utility bills. I isn't the job of your manager, the owner of the building or anyone else to assist you with utilities. Can't you buy a plug in heater? They make them child proof!!! Please take measures to not have more children, it sounds like you can't even afford the ones you have.... bills....good luck.
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/30/2007
- Obviously you didn't read this paragraph..."What people will do is bring in space heaters, candles or God forbid, heat with charcoal to try and stay warm, and then we all know that accidents will happen."
From: JackieBoy165	Date: 12/02/2007
This is to the #1 idiot response, if your "fridge" were to suddenly stop working, would you go and buy ice from the store everyday....Don't ponder to hard, you know just as I do that is ridiculous. The point being, the buildings installed a/c and heating systems should be no less operational than the refrigerator or electrical outlets. Now... after having said that, I will say I've only lived here but two months and have not yet had any problems with the heating systems. However, tempretures also have not been that low in my time here. If any issues do arise in my building during these late winter months, I most certainly will investigate futher the "policies and regulations" of heating as it pertains to Equity Residential and thier tenants.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/13/2008
Just an UPDATE- The Battalion Fire Chief here in Everett came out and required them to turn the heat back on in the common areas as it is a Fire Saftey Hazard if the sprinkler Heads were FROZEN... :)

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