South Side Chicago residents say 'slumlord' forced them to live without hot water

CHICAGO - A group of tenants in South Shore are fed up with the city after a "slumlord" forced them to live 30-plus days without hot water.

The group gathered Monday at their apartment building on East 68th Street.

They say despite a number of calls to the city's 3-1-1 hot line, their building went 34 days without hot water.

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"I've emailed her office five times. I've demanded to speak to the building commissioner four times. I have not gotten a response. And going into the fall and winter season, I do not feel comfortable this building is a safe one to live in with a slumlord," said Erick Johnson.

FOX 32 Chicago has reached out to the landlord and Catalyst Realty Rental Agency for comment but have not yet heard back.

Mike Puccinelli from the Department of Buildings issued the following statement:

"A Department of Buildings inspector was at the building last week and did determine that they have hot water.

Apparently building resident, Erick Johnson, who called the news conference, says he made the first complaint back in June. An inspector was sent out within days but was unable to gain entry to the building.

A DOB inspector that was at the building last week was told by building management that there were boiler problems.  So a new boiler was installed. But the installation wasn’t done correctly and it kept malfunctioning. That led to the hot water issues.   The problems with the new boiler have since been resolved.

We agreed to do an inspection with Erick Johnson where he can show us the myriad problems that he claims exist, but that has not yet happened."

Puccinelli says there is an active court case for the property in question and that an inspector attempted to inspect the property on June 14, 2022, but was unable to gain entry.

The next court date is set for December 6, 2022.