As firefighters battled flames that ripped through Hickory Hills apartment in Brunswick last week, nearby apartments suffered water and smoke damage.
Resident Jennifer Churnega showed us her apartment, nearly everything ripped out, carpets, sink, and floorboards due to water damage.
"This is not livable for me, or to take care of my son," Churnega said.
Because she can't live here, Churnega said she asked for most of her March rent, $750, to be refunded. She said the managers won't give her an answer.
“I ask are you going to give it back, and they don't answer,” Churnega said.
During our interview the manager showed up and NewsChannel 5 tried to get his side of the story, but he wouldn't answer any questions.
In the small print on the lease it reads rent is not required if the apartment is unusable.
We called a tenant/landlord attorney who said the same thing: if an apartment is uninhabitable, the rent should be returned.
Meanwhile, one week after the fire, investigators are still trying to find out the exact cause of the fire.
