JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville father says every rainstorm brings the same worry: water pouring into his apartment. After months of maintenance requests, he says the problems at his University Park apartment remain unresolved.
Tenant Says Leaks Have Worsened for Months
Isaiah Lamontagne says he and his 11-year-old son have lived at Tree House Apartments since 2024. He says conditions began to deteriorate this summer when his air conditioning unit started leaking, eventually leaving a hole in the pantry ceiling.
“When it rains, it pours into my apartment,” Lamontagne said. “Everybody in Jacksonville knows how hurricanes are. They could be heavy, they could be mid, but I know my dining room is gonna be a mini pool.”
Lamontagne says the damage has made it difficult to use parts of his home. He told Action News Jax he can no longer store food in his pantry because of mildew concerns and says he’s spent money on pest control products as conditions have worsened.
“I can’t keep my food in the pantry,” Lamontagne said. “Either food is limited or we have to throw it away after a while. It’s mildewing.”
Buckets, Water Damage, and Repeated Repairs
According to Lamontagne, buckets must be emptied daily to catch water dripping from the damaged area. During rainstorms, he says he is forced to mop up water to prevent flooding inside the apartment.
“I’m tired of replacing tiles, tired of placing rugs, tired of replacing toys, replacing buckets for the hole that’s getting filled every other day with water from the AC,” he said. “I just want you guys to fix this problem.”
Lease documents reviewed by Action News Jax show Lamontagne pays nearly $1,500 a month in rent, which he says should include maintenance and repairs.
Multiple Requests, No Permanent Fix
Records reviewed by Action News Jax show Lamontagne submitted at least nine maintenance requests through the apartment complex’s app. He also emailed management and filed a complaint with the city.
Despite those efforts, he says the leaks and damage have continued.
Action News Jax went to Tree House Apartments seeking answers from management and attempted to contact both the leasing office and property management by phone. Those efforts were unsuccessful.
Father Says He Wants Stability for His Son
Lamontagne says his biggest concern is maintaining a comfortable home for his son, who has autism.
“I don’t want to put too much anger on,” he said. “With my son with autism, I don’t want to have that energy in the home. I want him to know this is still a comfortable place. You can still have your fun here. The apartment complex needs to fix it.”
Management Responds After Media Inquiry
After Action News Jax contacted the apartment complex on Lamontagne’s behalf, a callback system associated with the property indicated maintenance would be sent to inspect the reported issues.
Action News Jax will continue to follow the situation and provide updates on whether repairs are made.
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