PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A group of renters filed a $1.8 million lawsuit against a Portland apartment complex after overdue repairs to heating systems left some units “miserably cold,” and a lack of weatherization led snow to accumulate on some windows inside the apartments, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint — which was first reported by The Oregonian — was filed on January 22 by 15 tenants who live in the Glencourt Apartments against the apartment complex, property managers with The NWV Group, and Turk Investments, LLC.

According to the lawsuit, the “lack of heat” in the apartments on East Burnside Street has been well-known by the landlords and “ignored since well before 2021.”

“Defendants have outrageously delayed conducting long overdue repairs, instead forcing their tenants to endure winter weather after winter of unprecedentedly low temperatures, storm after storm,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges that the landlords have received “incessant reports” over the course of many years, and since at least 2021, “there has been no significant period of time that the heating system has been properly maintained and provided adequate heat.”

The maintenance issues go beyond the heating system, as the lawsuit alleges landlords failed to properly weatherize windows, which has led to cold air, frost, and snow to enter units.

On top of these issues, the tenants allege that the landlords failed to maintain electrical systems, so the plaintiffs were unable to use space heaters without shorting electricity in their units, according to the suit.

In one case, two plaintiffs, allege for the last three months, they have been forced to sleep as a family with their three minor children in a hide-away bed in the living room because the children’s bedrooms lack heat. The family also claims that in November 2024, their pet snake died because of the heating issues.

Another renter claims six of her eight windows have been in disrepair and do not fully close, allowing frost to enter her home, and similar to other tenants, she has isolated one room to try to stay warm, the lawsuit alleges.

Another tenant claimed her windows also failed to protect the apartment from the weather, causing snow to pile up on her window inside the apartment.

With this lawsuit, the plaintiffs — including some who have since been able to move out — said they hope to make 2025 “less miserably cold for themselves and other tenants.”

The complaint alleges the landlords breached their duty to remedy maintenance issues and are seeking the $1.8 million for economic and non-economic damages.

The lawsuit also cites the Oregon Residential Landlord Tenant Act, which makes it unlawful for landlords to collect rent while refusing to pay to maintain housing up to basic livable standards.

A spokesperson for Turk Investments, LLC. said that the company confirmed with the property manager that there are no open tenant repair requests regarding habitability issues.

A representative with NWV Group said, “Both NWV Group and Glencourt ownership take tenant complaints very seriously and work together to address reported concerns.  Glencourt ownership and NWV Group value our residents and their habitability.  At this time, we have no open heat or habitability issues that have been submitted by tenants at Glencourt.  Since purchasing this building in 2021, ownership has completed extensive building upgrades, including updating common areas, fixing dry rot, completing interior unit upgrades, and ongoing heat repairs.  Without responding to specific allegations in the legal case, we deny the allegations against both management and ownership and intend to present facts to support our position as part of the lawsuit.”