Tenants Of West Side Building Left Without Heat

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Hundreds of Chicagoans are struggling through the cold with no heat. Their apartment complex in the near west side's Medical District hasn't turned it on.

CBS 2's Mike Parker reports they are fed up.

The law says the heat should have been turned on here over a month ago. It was not

Uzair Ahmed is a UIC student who lives at Medical Center Apartments with five roommates.

"We were sitting at home, wearing socks, wearing sweatshirts, wearing jackets," said Ahmed.

Uzair invited CBS 2 up to his apartment, but a woman from the building office said no.

Other residents tell CBS 2 not only was there no heat, there hasn't been hot water for weeks either.

"It will get colder and colder because it is October, and it is November and December and it is going to snow. What are we going to do with that," said tenant Lin Xu.

A Chicago tenants' rights group was handling similar complaints Tuesday.

"They do have the right to reduce a portion of the rent on the days they are without heat," said Regina Rizzo, of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization.

CBS 2 shared all this with Alderman Bob Fioretti tonite. He said City building inspectors will be here soon along with Health and Family Services.