'We tried everything and nobody did anything' : Woman Breaks Lease at NYC Apartment After Toxic Landlord and City Officials Ignore Constant Fire Hazard Complaints, Unit Burns Down Only a Month Later

Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor

Feb 11, 2023 9:00 AM EST

When renting or even owning property on of the biggest nightmares is a fire. That is why there are fire safety laws, especially in renting property for everyone's safety. However, in big cities, such as New York, it is easy to fly under the radar and get away with fire hazards. It doesn't seem like a big deal in the moment if there is a couple of bikes blocking the fire exit, or the smoke detecter doesn't work, but if an emergency happens those things become big problems. So as a tenant, for your safety and the safety of everyone else in the building, it is important to report fire hazards (or clear them up yourself if possible) when you see them.

That is exactly what the tenants of this NYC apartment building had been doing for months to no avail. One of the tenants seemed to be running some shady things in his apartment. The main concern, however, were the many e-bikes they had piled up in the hallway outside of their apartment. E-bike batteries, especially off-market brands, are prone to catching fire very often. It has been a huge problem in the e-bike industry and that is why they have rules surrounding them.

So the tenants reported this obvious fire hazard over and over again. Not only to the super, but to the landlord, the police and fire department, and even city officials. One summons was sent, but no further action was ever taken. One woman named Claire decided enough was enough and she didn't want to put her life at risk, so she moved out in early January. About a month later, the place indeed catches on fire and she posts about it on her TikTok.

She rightfully is frustrated and upset because she and the other tenants did everything they could to try and prevent this fire from happening, but they were met with no help. Now the entire 5th floor has been turned to ashes and she is wondering what actions she should next. Viewers leave comments applauding her for following her guts and doing everything she could and also giving her legal advice for what to do next.

Check it out below.