Families Still Feeling Effects After Pipe Bursts at Billerica Apartment Complex

by Natalie Rubino, Boston 25 News

Three days after a pipe burst at an apartment building in Billerica, families are still feeling the effects as they search for places to stay.

The Monty family is one of many who can’t stay in their apartment due to the pipe that burst at The Commons at Boston Road around 3 p.m. earlier in the week. “We heard this loud explosion,” Jim Monty said. “The whole thing was just a disaster. As soon as I opened the door, the water was already pouring down from the ceiling.”

The damage to the apartments was extensive, leaving the Monty’s to stay at a hotel. “There’s a lot of mold,” Monty said. “Serious mold and the bathrooms and stuff, the walls are all bubbled, and the bed it wet. It’s not just mold wet, it’s wet, so it must of come through the ceiling there. And all our furniture is going to have to be replaced.”

While the family has been able to find a place to stay, they said other neighbors haven’t been so lucky, including one man they’re working to help.

“His wife has MS and he’s handicapped,” Monty said. “And we found out he found a place for his wife with MS, but he slept in his car. It’s sad, there’s no reason that should happen.”

Apartment management told the people affected to reach out to their renter’s insurance company, but not eveyrone in hte building has insurance.

“These people don’t have money and stuff,” Monty said. “The guy that’s handicapped said to them, ‘Well, what are you going to do for us?’ And she said, ‘Well that’s what you got insurance for.’ You know, at least have some compassion for these people. None, none whatsoever.”

The management company declined to comment, but said in an email to residents that they will be pro-rating their rent, but aren’t sure when they can get them back inside the building.

Author: Carolyn Willbanks