Tenants of San Mateo Apartments concerned about mold, living conditions

Several tenants living at the San Mateo Apartments in east El Paso said their health is endangered by living there.

One apartment tenant told KFOX14 it's likely because of their shower, which they said is infested by mold.

Another tenant said it's because of a broken pipe underneath their apartment's foundation.

Chris Berry invited KFOX14 into his apartment to show us where he said black mold is growing in his bathroom.

He said the maintenance team has been working on the issue for a couple of days but said he doesn't understand why the management won't get him, his wife and his 9-month-old daughter a hotel or even another apartment within the complex while they do work.

They also claim the management team hasn't taken their concerns about the mold seriously.

Berry, a disabled vet, is afraid having such work done in their apartment while they are still living there, because it's harmful to his family's health and said it's already harmed his daughter.

"She's on breathing treatments, three breathing treatments a day," said Berry.

KFOX14 asked Berry if he thought his daughter's sickness was caused by the mold.

"Definitely. I definitely do," he said.

"Did the doctor say that, or who told you that?" asked KFOX14.

"Well, we did our own little research on it and the doctor said she has reactive airway disease," said Berry.

The apartment manager declined an on-camera interview and said their corporate offices will be in touch with KFOX14.

As of Friday evening, KFOX14 received a call from a spokeswoman who claimed to be with the corporate offices of the San Mateo apartments.

The spokeswoman, Renee, told KFOX 14 the apartment’s management tries to be as accommodating as possible when it comes to requests from tenants.

However, she said she needed to look up the specific work orders about the two apartments KFOX 14 looked into before commenting further.

Renee did not call back in time for the 5 or 9 p.m. broadcasts Friday.

Both tenants said they have a short time left in their lease and just want out.

Here is a link to the Texas’ Attorney General’s office on Tenant’s Rights: www.oag.state.tx.us/ag_publications/pdfs/tenant_rights.pdf