News Summary
More than 700 residents at The Morgan and Elements on Third in St. Petersburg risk losing their water service due to unpaid bills by their management company, Lurin Real Estate Holdings. The city has issued a warning, stating that if the outstanding debts are not settled by August 21, water service will be interrupted. Tenants are frustrated, believing utilities are covered in their rent. Alongside the water shutoff threat, residents report declining living conditions and are considering legal options to terminate their leases.
St. Petersburg, FL – More than 700 residents at The Morgan and Elements on Third apartment complexes in St. Petersburg face the prospect of losing their water service due to unpaid bills by the property management company, Lurin Real Estate Holdings. A notice from the city, dated August 1, warned residents that the company has not settled overdue utility payments and that service could be shut off if the debts remain unpaid by August 21.
Residents at these complexes, which together comprise over 700 units, have expressed their frustration regarding the situation. Many believe that utilities are covered in their rent, leading to confusion and anger over the potential service disruption. Ashleigh Slaybaugh, a tenant at The Morgan, voiced her concerns about why residents like herself are facing water shutoffs for unpaid bills that they thought were included in their monthly payments. Currently, the Slaybaughs pay more than $1,900 each month for their two-bedroom unit.
In addition to the water service threat, residents have reported additional grievances, including declining conditions of their apartments, unmaintained pools, a gym that has been closed for renovations, and worries about pest control services possibly being discontinued. These ongoing issues have contributed to tenants considering their options, including legal remedies that would allow them to break their leases without facing penalties.
Following the issuance of the notice, management from The Morgan reached out to residents via email, indicating that they are working with the city to manage the situation and prevent service interruptions. However, city officials confirmed reports suggesting that while some partial payments have been made by Lurin, a substantial balance remains outstanding, and the scheduled shutoff is still set to take place.
Lurin Real Estate Holdings appears to be under significant financial pressure, now facing a $400 million foreclosure involving 12 properties across Florida. Earlier this year, similar issues were noted at another Lurin-managed complex in Tampa, which also faced the threat of water service termination due to unpaid bills.
Tenants at Elements on Third have expressed additional concerns about the potential impact on their internet service, which may also be affected due to the company’s failure to pay bills. Many residents at the complexes have reported dissatisfaction with their living conditions and are contemplating the possibility of terminating their leases in light of the unsettling circumstances.
As of now, the City of St. Petersburg has not released specific details about the total amount owed by Lurin or the number of payments missed. However, they are actively monitoring the situation and plan to keep residents updated on the status of Lurin’s payments. Lurin Real Estate Holdings manages over 10,000 units across the United States and has encountered various legal challenges in recent years.
The situation continues to develop, and more than 700 residents remain anxious as they await further information regarding the potential shutoff of their water service and the overall management of their living environments.
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Additional Resources
- Fox13 News
- Wikipedia: Water Supply and Sanitation in the United States
- WTSP News
- Google Search: St Petersburg water shutoff
- I Love The Burg
- Google Scholar: St. Petersburg utility bills
- WFLA News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water System
- Patch
- Google News: St Petersburg water issues
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
