Tenants stranded upstairs after landlord removes stairs

Team Udayavani, Jun 9, 2017, 9:41 AM IST

The residents of an apartment complex in the US state of Georgia were shocked this week when they tried to leave home – only to find they were stuck, as their stairs had been removed.

The emergency services were eventually summoned to help free residents of Maple Walk Apartments in Decatur who lived above the ground floor.

Tenants had found notices on their doors saying they would have no access to the stairs until this Thursday.

“They gave us no notice. No nothing. They were already taking the stairs down when we got the notice this morning,” a resident said.

“This is crazy. How can you cut off access to the stairs and everybody’s in their apartments?” added a neighbor.

Some residents had received a letter last week saying that the stairs needed emergency repairs, and that tenants would be reimbursed for hotel costs for the time they’d be required to move out.

However, they say that the stairs were abruptly removed on Monday morning, with no prior warning having been given.

The stranded residents were eventually freed when local reporter called in firefighters to help.

Workmen told the reporter that work on the stairs will be completed before the end of the week.