Houston, Texas (KTRK) – Two women who live in an apartment complex that caught fire in western Houston in August say management has been “inhumane” in the weeks after the fire alarm.
A building at The Abbey in Briar Forest on South Kirkwood Road caught fire on August 4, and the Houston Fire Department said all 12 units in the building received damage in a fire that was considered accidental.
Watch previous story: HFD investigates cause of apartment fire in southwest Houston
Janice Hilton said the apartment owned by Abbey Residential outside of Alabama, and she promised to return the August rent, which was due the day before the accident.
However, when she went to get the redemption check, she was told that she would only receive the money if she signed a document titled Cancellation of the Lease.
“He said if I didn’t sign the paper, I wouldn’t get the check,” Hilton explained.
She didn’t sign, so she didn’t receive what she said should have been around $1,100.
Had Hilton signed this agreement, she would not have gotten her deposit back, she would still have had to pay some utilities, she could not hire a lawyer, and she would no longer be allowed to live on the Abbey Residential property anywhere.
ABC13 contacted that company that referred us to their local office.
Dina Hooper, Vice President of Southwest Residential Abbey Residential, sent ABC13 language into their rental agreement, which states:
“The security deposit was paid by the residents in accordance with the terms of the lease and must be held by the landlord or refunded to the residents, as the case may be, in accordance with tenancy law and Texas depending on the condition of the apartment upon moving out and any balances owed and benefits owed in arrears.”
Hilton said she did not break her lease, which is why she believes the document she was asked to sign does not apply to this situation.
In addition, Melissa Stewart said that she lived in a unit that was completely destroyed by fire.
She said she had lost everything, and that the complex would not provide her with the documents needed to get food for herself and her two children after the fire.
She also told ABC13 when she went to retrieve a check on Wednesday, she was told she didn’t have one for her.
“No one asks for handouts, no one asks for anything beyond that,” Stewart said. “We only require basic human fitness because in my situation, I had to move on and start over.”
Abby Skanky added that they could not comment further due to the ongoing investigation, but the Houston Fire Department told ABC13 that the investigation had been closed.
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See also: Fire spreads through the common attic of the Westchase apartment complex
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