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SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Residents of The Veranda Midtown Apartments are expressing frustration over unresolved issues regarding their living conditions, claiming the management has not taken action to address their complaints.
Many senior citizens residing in the complex report problems ranging from bed bug infestations to malfunctioning appliances. They allege that they are being intimidated into silence by the office staff, preventing them from speaking out.
A family member, wishing to remain anonymous, revealed that her relative has been struggling with a persistent bed bug problem for over three years without any resolution from the management.
“During a visit, I noticed something drop on my head. It was a small black bug, slimy to the touch. I stood up and started inspecting the room, only to find bed bugs crawling up the walls,” she recounted.
A former caregiver at the complex labeled the living conditions as “deplorable.” She reported that an elderly male resident she assisted was suffering from a severe infestation, which she subsequently reported to the housing authority.
She alleges she was retaliated against by office staff, who contacted her employer and blamed her for the infestation. She said she was later fired.
“I mean, it’s covered everywhere. He was standing with a blanket over his whole body,” she said. “I was telling him, ‘I’m going to report these people.’ He was telling me, ‘No, I have to stay here.’ He didn’t want any drama. They all told me to spray vinegar. I’m like, no, you don’t spray vinegar. He was literally up there with bugs in his room. They were everywhere.”
Rick White, senior vice president of The Integral Group, which owns the complex, visited the property earlier this week to address residents’ concerns.
White said management has not received reports of ongoing problems and disputed allegations of long-term neglect.
“Any allegations of months of neglect are completely unfounded,” White said. “Our systems are in place. If there is an emergency, it’s handled within 24 hours, and routine maintenance issues are handled within 48 hours.”
In a statement provided to , management said that under the signed rental agreement, residents are required to promptly notify management of any suspected bed bug activity and that no such reports have been received.
Several residents, however, said they fear eviction and have remained silent because they live on fixed incomes and have nowhere else to go.
The full statement from management can be seen below:
“As the station that says it is “On Your Side,” we appreciate you bringing this forward. When concerns are raised, the right outcome depends on a complete and accurate record.
We are focused on our residents. We understand that aging in place can be harder for some seniors than for others. That is why we have team members dedicated solely to senior wellness, social connection, and service coordination, ensuring our residents remain secure, engaged, and supported in their homes.
We are not contesting whether bedbugs can exist in an individual apartment. In multifamily housing, they can. They are not a structural building defect. They are not a building-wide condition. They are introduced into individual homes by guests or residents and must be reported in order to be treated.
The issue here is notice.
Under the signed rental agreement, every resident is contractually required to promptly notify management of any suspected bedbug activity. The rental agreement states:
“Resident shall promptly notify Management of any conditions that may indicate the presence of bed bugs…”
It further says:
“You must report any signs or suspicions of bedbugs to Management as soon as possible…”
We have no such report.
There are no bedbug-related work orders on record. If there were a reported issue requiring treatment, there would be documentation and a corresponding response, per the rental agreement. You acknowledged in our conversation that bedbugs are not a building-wide issue in the way mold or HVAC failure might be. They are introduced into individual units. That is correct. They are unit-specific and must be reported to be addressed.
We are also very conscious of our residents’ privacy. Veranda at Midtown is independent housing, not an assisted care facility. Our residents are entitled to dignity and privacy in their homes. We do not conduct random apartment checks.
We rely on residents to report any concern, including any suspicion of pests, so we can respond appropriately and promptly. Out of an abundance of caution, we conducted broader walkthroughs after these allegations surfaced. We regret any disruption that may have caused, but our priority is always resident well-being balanced with respect for their privacy.
Because we were not provided with the resident’s name or unit number associated with the images you supplied, we had no way to isolate the allegation to a specific apartment. As a result, we were required to conduct broader walkthroughs that disrupted other residents.”