MEMPHIS, Tenn. — This story has been updated.
The heat is making living conditions unbearable for some northeast Memphis residents. They have been without air conditioning for two months.
McKenzie Mason told ABC24 he moved into Brentwood Place Apartments in April 2024. He said a week after moving into his apartment, he received a notification the complex was under new management. Mason said since that transition happened, his air conditioning has been non-existent.
Inside of Mason's apartment, the temperature is set at 70 degrees, but the thermostat read 91 degrees. He said this situation has not been pleasant, adding that his elderly aunt has been dealing with the same issue for a few months.
"She's ringing wet when she comes out of her room," Mason said. "She goes to the restroom, she comes out the restroom, there's no AC, no nothing. All under her neck, everything is just soaked."
According to Mason, he has sent management multiple emails on getting his air conditioning unit fixed, but has not found much success. He said they have work orders marked complete when the job is not yet finished.
This is not the only problem Mason is facing. His MLGW bill has soared from a little more than $100 to more than $400 in one billing cycle.
"My light bill now is $411, and that's with (a) portable unit," he said. "Now that I have bought two units, it will probably be around the ($700) or $800 mark next month, and I'm asking them for help."
Mason said when management heard ABC24 was doing an investigation about the units not having working AC, they immediately made an offer to transfer him into another apartment. He said there is an issue with that new unit though: There is mold throughout the bathroom.
ABC24 tried to speak with a representative with Brentwood Place Apartments, but the assistant manager said they will not make a comment.
Following a report by ABC24 on Tuesday, a City of Memphis official said code enforcement did confirm with Brentwood Place apartment leasing office they were aware some units did not have working a/c. An official with the City of Memphis told ABC24 the complex was cited.
Brentwood Place has until Thursday to fix the a/c or they will be taken to environmental court at a later date.
One resident who did not wish to have their face on camera told ABC24 that everything changed when the management company, Wogan Group, took over the complex. The resident believes the needs of residents are being ignored.
"We put an order in, and I check, and it was canceled," the resident said. "...But nobody showed up to my apartment, and I have a ring camera, so I see everything that goes on."
Brentwood Place is not the only Memphis apartment complex that's been cited by the City of Memphis for poor conditions in the past few weeks. Gospel Gardens in Whitehaven has more than a dozen pending court cases. The complex's management is due to appear in environmental court next week.