Lightsey Place

Small little gem in south Austin!

I lived at Lightsey Place from February 2022 to May 2024. First in unit 202, then in unit 103. Both units had serious mold problems. Unit 103, where I lived for most of 2023 and early 2024, had toxic mold so severe that my dog nearly died and I had what I thought was COVID three times between Oct 2023-April 2034, as well as skin and sinus issues that continue to this day. After a clogged AC drain flooded my unit and they made no attempt to dry anything, mold quickly appeared. I reported the issue for nine months before anyone took it seriously. During that time, the property cycled through three different management companies- Lynx Management, Texla Housing Partners, and now Cardinal Group. The property was sold to a new owner in February 2024. In April 2024, nearly a year after I first raised concerns, I removed a water damaged baseboard and discovered huge amounts of mold. Only then did the new owner acknowledge the problem. The unit had to be completely gutted. Instead of offering support or taking responsibility for the prolonged exposure, I was told I had 48 hours to vacate so they could begin remediation. I asked for accommodations but was told that they could only comp my rent for the next month, so I could pay for my own accommodations. Before remediation started, I tried to remove my belongings but was told I was holding up the process and was pressured to leave them behind. As soon as I left, they threw my belongings into the boxes I bought, and put everything into a storage container, without my permission. Fragile items were not protected, they used duct tape on furniture and other items, it was a literal disaster. It didn’t matter in the end, since 80% of what I owned had to be thrown away due to the type of mold in my apartment. Cardinal Group refused to share mold testing results with me, so I paid $1,900 for independent professional testing on the day they began reconstruction. Results showed dangerous levels of Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium, and other dangerous mold still present. The mold had already spread beyond my unit. The ceiling shared with unit 203 and the walls adjoining units 102 and 104 were also affected. No one in those units was notified. The remediation was kept quiet, and no tenants were informed that toxic mold was being disturbed and released into shared airspace. Due to the presence of, I was forced to throw away about 80 percent of my belongings. I was never offered any compensation. Since moving out, three separate tenants who were my former neighbors have contacted me after discovering mold in their own units, asking for guidance on what to do. That alone speaks volumes about the ongoing issues at this property. The toll of this experience was devastating, and I was never offered a penny in compensation or even an apology. Please stay far away from this property, it is unsafe and should be condemned. The Establishment, next door is owned by the same landlord and managed by the same company, and is rumored to also have mold, so please do your homework before renting in Austin. I wish I had.