I-Team: Condemned house in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A woman from Springfield called the 22News I-Team after she came home to a condemned house.  

22News I-team reporter Ryan Walsh discovered what happened.

Springfield police asked code enforcement inspectors to look at a home in the Forest Park neighborhood.  Tuesday it was condemned. Some tenants were struggling to get in touch with their landlord.  

"I came home this morning and found notices on my door that my home was condemned", says tenant Margaret Lecompte.

Springfield's Code Enforcement Director Dave Cotter told 22News that a house on Commonwealth Ave. near the "X" is condemned until its owner brings it up to code.   That means the tenants can't go back in until this order is lifted.

"Now there's three of us that are out on the street with nothing, the landlord is avoiding our phone call", says Lecompte.

Inspectors allege that it was being used as an illegal rooming house and it has several serious safety violations like exposed wires and other electrical problems.  

"We have complained numerous times of mice, and roaches, he doesn't fix anything but he's always there to collect his rent", says Lecompte.

Cotter told 22News the owner has until Friday to bring it back up to code or he'll be forced to go to housing court.  The name and address of the landlord was written inside the porch.  Ray Donaldson with a Longmeadow address.  22News went to that address and approached a driver of a van that had just pulled in to that house.

("Are you Ray?")
"Yes", answered the man.

("Ray Donaldson?")
"No", said the man.

("Does a Ray Donaldson live here?")
"No", said the man.

("This is an address for tenants to send their money")

"No this is not the address, I have nothing to do with that", said the man.

The 22News I-team showed the tenant the video we shot.

 ("Is this your landlord?")

"Yes, that's Ray Donaldson", says Lecompte.

("So 100 percent this is your landlord")

"100 percent that's my landlord", SAYS Lecompte.

Lecompte spent her day in housing court.  Cotter said that in cases like this the property owner is obligated to help their tenants if they have nowhere to go.  Court officials told Lecompte to keep all her receipts.