PENDER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – The property manager for Seven Oaks spoke at a meeting regarding potential mold at the complex on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Residents have been complaining about black mold for years and now Sue Sava, the county’s housing director, says mold testing will be conducted.
The housing authority oversees the voucher program used by the tenants and owns the property, but contracts Excel Property Management to run the day-to-day operations and tenant relations. The authority works with Excel in the event of funds needed for repairs, Sava said. She said that tenants are responsible for making maintenance requests, and that issues with Excel should be reported to the authority.
“Over the past year, Excel Property Management has faced challenges with staffing, leading [to] inconsistency in property management and maintenance. Seven Oaks, being over 20 years old, requires ongoing repairs and updates, and we are actively seeking the funds necessary for the required improvements,” Sava said, reading off a prepared statement.
Sava placed the blame on Excel Property Management, and she was the former onsite property manager for Excel at Seven Oaks. When asked, she said that she did not know about the mold at the time. Current residents have provided inspections showing elevated levels of mold and WECT has obtained emails from Sava in 2022 saying that there were “black-like substances reappearing in two apartments.”
According to Sava, the housing authority does not believe all of the units have mold, but testing will be done.
The tenants picked up their mold testing schedule, and they can now take up their concerns with the county.
Sava called out a Facebook group that some had joined that allegedly told people not to contact the housing authority.
“Additionally, we are forming and want to form a tenant advisory board specifically for Seven Oaks to better facilitate communication and address your concerns more effectively,” Sava continued.
She said that Seven Oaks is a top priority to her. When asked by residents what would happen if the mold levels came back extreme and unsafe, Sava said they would come up with alternate living arrangements and cross that bridge when they come to it.
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