No appliances. No sink, dishwasher, fridge, stove, broken windows letting in air.

Unlivable Conditions at Artspace: No Appliances, Windows not working correctly and no sink.

During the January 21, 2025, City Council meeting, two Artspace tenants spoke out about the deplorable living conditions they are enduring. Their complaints paint a grim picture:

• No working appliances—no fridge, no stove, no dishwasher.
• No working sink—basic plumbing left unfixed.
• Broken windows—letting in freezing air during winter.

This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s inhumane.

Art Gallery Funding was available

In addition to not ensuring tenants have basic living conditions, the landlords also closed the art gallery. Last year, $30,000 in funding was distributed to 2 Norwich art galleries, including:

• Sikh Gallery (Owned by a councilman)
• Gallery at the Wauregan
  (Source)

Tenants Speak Out: No Fixes, No Relief

Artspace residents aren’t just facing appliance failures. They’ve reported a pattern of neglect:

• Refusal to fix leaks, leading to water damage and mold.
• Refusal to replace broken appliances, forcing residents to live without basics.

The problem isn’t just this one building—it’s a failure of oversight. Landlords should not be able to ignore basic repairs while still collecting rent.

Stronger Tenant Protections Needed

No one should live without heat, air conditioning, or working appliances. Progress has been made on tenant protections at the state level—such as:

✔ Eliminating security deposits
✔ Capping background check fees
✔ Expanding renters’ rights

But it’s not enough. We need stronger enforcement and penalties for landlords who allow tenants to live in uninhabitable conditions.

No Retaliation, No Excuses

Tenants who speak up should not face retaliation. Yet, too often, those who report unsafe conditions are threatened with eviction or ignored entirely.

This must stop. We need some relief for tenants.

• Stronger penalties for landlords who fail to make repairs.
• Emergency funding to ensure residents have working appliances, plumbing, and heat.
• A program where residents who cannot afford appliance appraisal can go. For example, a freezer is working but leaking freon. Landlord claims the freezer works and denies repair or replacement.

Time for Action

People are suffering in their own homes.

Tenants deserve livable conditions. Landlords must be held accountable. No one should live without basic necNo appliances. No sink, dishwasher, fridge, stove, broken windows letting in air.