ASHLAND, KY (WOWK) – Six tenants of an apartment in Ashland, Kentucky were forced to leave their homes behind after the property was condemned.

Contractors found an eight-foot deep hole on the back end of the Tudor Oaks Properties apartment complex on Ester Street. The contractors were originally at the complex to install new back decks, but after removing concrete they discovered the hole, which partially went underneath the apartment building.

City of Ashland Code Enforcement then placed a condemned sign on the building’s front doors and installed a chain link fence surrounding the building.

According to property owner Nancy Leadingham, the next steps that need to be taken to allow tenants to move back into the building would be to have a geotechnical engineer and a structural engineer inspect the property to ensure it’s structurally safe. But, this is something she said she’s had a hard time completing.

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“A problem we’re having right now is getting a structural or geotechnical engineer to come in and look at this and give us an opinion. There are several in the area, but nobody is willing to commit at this point. We are still looking,” said Leadingham.

Leadingham went on to say that she feels deeply for her tenants’ situation and that they are briefly allowed back into their apartments to grab some items they left behind. She is also working to help those displaced find temporary homes.

“I had six tenants in the building. We have one that’s already placed in one of my apartments that was open, and another that was promised an apartment. We are working to get it ready so they can move in. Unfortunately, I have four residents who are still without a permanent home and are having difficulty finding something,” said Leadingham.

Leadingham is requesting the public’s help to find temporary homes for her displaced tenants and engineers who are willing to inspect the property. She can be contacted at (606)-325-1240.

Leadingham also said that her tenants will not be charged rent while the building remains condemned, and she will be refunding any resident who paid in advance.

It is unclear when or if the apartment building will undergo the necessary repairs needed to allow tenants back into their homes.

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