Bitter cold in Milwaukee without heat; renter gets reprieve

No heat for months for Milwaukee renter

A Milwaukee woman claimed she hasn't had heat in her apartment for months.

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee woman said her entire building has been without heat for months. But while speaking with FOX6 News, she got a knock at the door that caught her by surprise.  

Cold without heat

What we know:

Cassandra Rankin said she has lived in her northwest side apartment unit for 16 years. But she said for the past few months, heat had been non-existent. 

Cassandra Rankin

Rankin said she has called the building's property manager, Berrada Properties, several times.

What they're saying:

"Living in here it’s cold and I’m freezing," Rankin said. "I left a message and told them they need to get some heat in this building."

Cassandra Rankin

Rankin was surrounded by space heaters and layered in sweaters. She said she was starting to feel like help and heat would never come. Tenants in her building called Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services. 

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"The number one thing the tenant should do is contact their property manager or landlord to let them know about the issue," said Jeremy McGovern, Marketing & Communications Officer for Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services. "The inside of a unit must be maintained at 67 degrees in these cold weather periods."

Jeremy McGovern

DNS officials say after calling your property manager, if nothing else happens in 24 hours, they are your next call. 

Back with Rankin, she got a knock at the door just as she was wrapping up the interview with FOX6 News. It was maintenance coming to crank the heat up. 

"Baby, I didn’t expect that, but I praise God for him," Rankin said. 

What you can do:

The Department of Neighborhood Services told FOX6 News it has received more than 27 complaints of no heat or insufficient heat on Tuesday, Jan. 21 alone. 

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If you need assistance, you are urged to visit the city's website or call 414-286-CITY.