Woman Still Without Power

For most of us the thought of living without power is a horrible memory, but for one Sand Springs family it's a harsh reality. The landlord can't afford the necessary repairs. So what's a

Thursday, December 27th 2007, 10:23 pm

By: News On 6

For most of us the thought of living without power is a horrible memory, but for one Sand Springs family it's a harsh reality. The landlord can't afford the necessary repairs. So what's a renter to do? News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports the affected family feels like they will have to move.

â€œWhat am I to do? I am still without lights,â€ said Charlotte Mercado who lives in Sand Springs.

She is without hope that her situation will change anytime soon.

â€œThe first days were really rough, of course, with everybody else, but the last two weeks knowing that everybody else has lights and we don't,â€ added Charlotte Mercado.

The problem is right outside her front door. She needs an electrician, but says her landlord refuses to pay for one.

â€œIf I was. I wouldn't treat people this way. I would offer a candle, a flashlight to somebody if I was a landlord, but they haven't even offered that,â€ said Charlotte Mercado.

Instead, she's relying on neighbors and lots of extension cords to keep her family out of the dark. Charlotte's landlord Kurt Mathena says he's tapped out.

â€œI don't have the funds to do it myself. When you start talking about electricians and people that want to come do it for $1,800 and $2,500, I can't do that,â€ said landlord Kurt Mathena.

So the Mercados say they can't continue to live there.

â€œWe have to move. We can't live in this condition. They're not going to fix it. They don't have the money to fix. They've made that clear,â€ said renter Charlotte Mercado.

An attorney says not having the money is not a defense. According to law, if a landlord fails to provide essential services, like electricity, the renter can end the lease and move immediately, move somewhere else temporarily and not pay the rent during that time or pay for the service and deduct the cost from rent.

But, before renters take any of those actions, they must give written notice to their landlord.

Watch the video: Woman Still Without Electricity