Tenants at Kirby Apartments report sewage, mold and no hot water; tenants union asks city to intervene

A volunteer organizer with the Cincinnati Tenants Union told Cincinnati City Council that multiple units in the Kirby Apartments, managed by Prodigy Properties and formerly owned by Vision and Beyond, are experiencing recurring sewage backups, flooding and lack of hot water.

“Water coming up through the floor, regular flooding, not just when it rains or snows,” volunteer organizer Reginald Dike said. He read city documentation he said was filed in response to previous calls that described inadequate hot water caused by mechanical failures and raw sewage backing up into dwelling units. Dike told council a tenant reported skin conditions the tenant attributed to sewage exposure and said roaches and mold were recurring problems.

Dike asked the city to intervene using appropriate departments and tools so that tenants “who are paying rent to Prodigy, ... can live in a proper place.” He said tenants across roughly six to nine buildings have reported similar problems and that more calls arrived after recent rains.

A council member asked Dike to leave contact information with staff referred to in the meeting as “Chaka” and noted that a legislative package passed two terms ago strengthened the city’s ability to hold corporate landlords accountable for basic services such as heat and water. The council member expressed optimism that those tools could be used to assist tenants.

No formal motion or vote on immediate enforcement was recorded during the meeting; speakers requested follow‑up and provided contact information to council staff.