Highland Park apartment fails to provide heat

Yolanda Townsend thought her apartment on East Ferris in Highland Park was nice after moving in last week.

But when she turned the heat on, there was none, Townsend asked her neighbors.

"I come in from work praying the heat would be on -- no heat. I'm steady freezing every day that I come in from work," she said.

FOX 2 previously reported on this apartment February. Hannah Saunders discovered the owner Victor grant lives in California. He told residents the heat will only be on from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. to cut costs for operating the building.

Townsend said she was never told about the heating situation when management took her deposit and first month's rent. She said she wants out but is not getting her money back and can't afford to pay to move elsewhere.

"Sometimes I'll get up in the middle of the night and get in my car and warm up, and I shouldn't have to do that," she said. "I just gave these people my money and all I'm asking for is my money back."

FOX 2 investigated this leasing arrangement and the Highland Park fire marshal wrote a ticket to the landlord because residents were forced to heat their apartments with their kitchen stoves.

The update now is the landlord said he will give any renter a refund if they give him a 30-day notice.