Residents say VB apartments management left them out to dry after fire
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — After a fire last week left 13 people without a home at the Legends at the Beach apartment community in Virginia Beach, affected residents are upset with how its management is handling the situation after having been told to collect all their belongings.
Thursday, the apartments were destroyed leaving 13 people without a home.
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That includes Dale Trancucci, who said she’s fed up with how the leasing office is handling the situation.
After her apartment was destroyed in the fire, she asked if she could be placed in another unit.
She was shocked by the answer she received.
“They’d be happy to afford me an apartment,” Trancucci said. “I would just have to sign a new lease with the new rent adjustment, which is $200 more than what I’m paying here. And I was like, no, I’m not doing that.”
She said the frustration continued when she contacted the apartment’s insurance company.
“All I got was, well, could you document everything, detail everything? Detail, that’s the word they used and video and take lots of pictures,” she said. “So I’m an adjuster now? I have to do that besides trying to pick up my life, find a place to live, put a roof over my head.”
Other residents who weren’t affected by the fire didn’t turn a blind eye to the situation.
One woman who declined to show her face or reveal her name said the leasing office is just wrong.
“It’s just sad how the tenants are being treated,” the nine-year resident said. “They are not responsible for the fire that has taken place. However, I feel that the organization-wide association of the apartment complex should’ve done a little bit more.”
Wednesday afternoon, 10 On Your Side walked into the leasing office looking for answers, but they didn’t have much to say.
“As far as I know, we’re not allowed to say anything, so I’m not sure how you want to go about that,” one employee said.
Trancucci said all she can do now is try and find somewhere to live, not knowing if she will be successful.
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