Sun Dial Square residents argue complex conditions are “un-livable”
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - According to RentCafe, the cost of living in Rapid City is one percent higher than the state average. With people paying slightly more than average you would expect living conditions to be about average as well.
However, after hearing from residents we traveled to the Sun Dial Square apartments to see how bad living conditions are at that complex.
Tonya Hof has been living at the Sun Dial Square apartments for two years, and during that time she has seen her apartment fall apart. From mold to broken cabinets, and even rats crawling around. Hof has seen it all and has complained to management many times, she says there is little to no response.
“I don’t even know how many times we’ve flooded. I mean endless amounts. In September, like I told you earlier, they had to put everyone on the bottom floor in a hotel because the whole entire bottom floor flooded. I’ve called management just about the plumbing in my bathroom numerous, probably about 50 times,” Hof said.
Hof said no one responded to her until Sunday night when the property manager showed up and claimed Hof had done all of the damage herself. One of Hof’s neighbors disagreed. Their apartment had similar damage that could be seen in the restroom and kitchen areas. Even the building’s shared hallways were covered in urine, feces, and other unknown substances. Hof says part of the reason for this is the back door is broken, allowing for homeless people to get in.
“This door you have to have the key fob to get in. The back door, it’s messed up and has been. Ever since they put in the key fob thing. It only worked for like a day,” Hof said.
Other residents who chose to remain anonymous claim their rent is being increased despite what tenants claim are laws saying it isn’t legally possible for another year. Currently, residents are paying around $1,080 for a two-bedroom, however, they say that could go up to as much as $1,600 in the coming months. Many residents can’t afford to move or afford more than the current rent and say they have reached out to lawyers, lawmakers, and human rights agencies to help them, all of them to no avail.
“I just want somebody to help me. I mean, I don’t know where else to go anymore. And I don’t want to be on the streets with my son, and Bob, and my dogs and you know? I don’t think it’s fair that we’re being treated like this,” Hof said.
Hof also showed text message exchanges with the property manager which read, “At this time we would like to invite you to put in your 30-day notice to vacate as per your request to leave the apartment”.
We’ve reached out to the Sun Dial Square Apartment Management team, and as of this afternoon, we’ve not heard anything back from them.
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