WTRF: Legal aid moves to take over neglected Ohio apartment complex

By: Mike Harris

STEUBENVILLE, OH — Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) has filed an emergency motion in Jefferson County Court to appoint a receiver for Heritage Place Apartments, a 100-unit affordable housing complex in Steubenville.

The move follows ongoing issues with poor management that have left residents without essential utilities and living in unsafe conditions.

"Residents of Heritage Place have endured unacceptable neglect for far too long.”— Pam Bolton | Managing Attorney at LASCO’s Steubenville Office

According to court documents, the property owner and management company have failed to pay for critical services, resulting in repeated shutoffs of water, gas, and electricity. Tenants pay for electricity inside their units, but the complex is responsible for common utilities like hallway lighting, heat, and water.

A broken boiler has left some apartments without heat since December. Last week, gas and electricity were shut off in two of the four buildings, leaving residents without hot water. One tenant reported at least seven utility shutoffs over the past 18 months.

"Despite ongoing court oversight, the property remains in a condition that falls below the minimum standards required by Ohio law.”— Pam Bolton | Managing Attorney at LASCO’s Steubenville Office

County records also show that the property owner, WG Heritage Place, missed the January 2024 deadline for paying property taxes.

In her motion, Bolton stated that the owners have failed to make timely repairs and taken no steps to improve conditions. She said a court-appointed receiver is needed to maintain basic services, make repairs, and pay bills to protect tenants’ health and safety.