ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The city of St. Petersburg says water may be shut off to hundreds of apartments later this month because the property owner hasn’t paid its utility bill.

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City of St. Petersburg says water may be shut off to hundreds of apartments later this month because the property owner hasn’t paid its utility bill

People who live in apartments at Elements on Third on 3rd Avenue North and The Morgan on 27th Street South got notices on their doors on Aug. 1 from the city 
An apartment spokesperson said the company sent that payment last week

People who live in apartments at Elements on Third on 3rd Avenue North and The Morgan on 27th Street South got notices on their doors on Aug. 1 from the city. They said utility service will be cut off on Aug. 21 if the property owner, Lurin Real Estate Holdings, doesn’t pay its bill.

An apartment spokesperson said the company sent that payment last week, but residents say they’re preparing for the worst.

The water was running in Olivia Bethune’s apartment on Monday, but she was among those who got notice from the city.

“‘Regretfully, we have now reached a critical point that will impact utility services to all of the tenants of Elements on Third,’” Bethune read from the letter.

A pricing breakdown Bethune provided shows Elements on Third tenants pay for water and sewer as part of their rent, but the city says Lurin hasn’t passed those payments on.

“I wasn’t surprised because I had been doing a lot of research,” Bethune said about the company. “They’ve had issues in Texas. They’ve had issues here. They’ve had tons of properties foreclose.”

Bethune moved to Elements on Third four months ago. She said there were issues from the beginning, like the pool being closed and gates not working. It was when she joined a resident Facebook group two weeks ago that she began realizing the extent of the issues. That group is how Thomas Sullivan found out water could be shut off. He’s lived in the complex for more than a year and says the walkable neighborhood is a big plus since he doesn’t drive.

“It’s very disturbing,” Sullivan said. “Water is not a luxury — it’s a necessity, and I don’t have another alternate place that I can go to in town.”

A spokesperson for Lurin said payments for the outstanding bills were sent last week.

“We are waiting for the City’s records to reflect receipt of the payments,” spokesperson Ed Cafasso said via e-mail. “That should occur well before the threatened deadline. There should be no interruption in water service for residents.”

Jeffrey Swartz, a professor emeritus with Cooley Law School, said tenants have options if water is turned off.

He said they can send a notice to their landlord that they plan to terminate their lease in seven days if water service isn’t restored. They can also place their rent in registry of court and file suit to force the landlord to provide water, which he said is required by law. 

“Can they force them to turn on the water? They can get a court order to do it, but the main remedy that they have is to terminate their rental agreement so they’re no longer obligated to pay rent,” said Swartz.

“It’s completely awful. I mean, the fact of the matter is that these residents are stuck between two forces,” said Boshko Stanisic, co-chair of the St. Petersburg Tenants Union.

Stanisic said the tenants union hasn’t been contacted by any of the impacted residents, but the group is looking into getting more involved.

“I remember at one point, I didn’t get the housing that I needed, and it was panic mode — very distressing,” he said. “So, it’s absolutely awful if any of them aren’t able to stay in the place that they are.”

St. Petersburg spokesperson Samantha Bequer said the city understands this is a stressful situation for residents and is working to prevent utilities from being shut off. She said partial payments were received as of Aug. 1, and the hope is progress will continue. Bethune said she’s already made plans for where she’ll stay if it doesn’t.

“I don’t really feel optimistic about it,” Bethune said. “I feel 50/50, because I just don’t know which way it’s gonna go.”

Bethune said she has started reaching out for legal help. 

According to Lurin’s website, there are a combined 735 units at Elements on Third and The Morgan.