Charlotte Mother Says Rental Company Negligence Left Family Without Power
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte mother says her family was left sweltering in extreme heat after her rental company failed to pay a utility bill, leading to their power being shut off.
Power Cut Despite Tenant’s Payments
Tyesha Bilbry said she and her 8-year-old son woke up recently to a silent home — no air conditioning, no refrigerator, and no electricity. When she called the city to find out what happened, officials told her the outage was due to nonpayment by her rental company, FirstKey Homes.
“This happening was kind of the last straw,” Bilbry told WCNC Charlotte.
Bilbry said she even showed proof that her rent payments included the utility account tied to her home, but the family’s power was still cut off.
More Tenants Affected
According to Bilbry, city officials confirmed she was not the only tenant impacted.
“The city told me we weren’t the only customers that were going to lose power because FirstKey didn’t pay,” she said.
Bilbry claims her repeated calls to FirstKey yielded only vague assurances. She said she was told a “ticket had been submitted,” but no property manager’s number or timeline for resolution was provided.
“We went the entire day with extreme heat with no power at all,” she said.
History of Complaints
The Better Business Bureau reports more than 1,500 complaints against FirstKey Homes in the last three years, including cases involving disconnection issues, poor maintenance, and communication failures.
Other Charlotte tenants have also taken to social media to share similar experiences, further fueling frustration with the company’s handling of essential services.
“I don’t trust them, don’t believe anything they say going forward,” Bilbry added.
Company Response Pending
WCNC Charlotte reached out to FirstKey Homes for comment on the complaints and recent power shutoffs, but as of publication, the company has not responded.
Should North Carolina strengthen renter protection laws to prevent families from losing power due to landlord negligence? Join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
