Hide Transcript Show Transcript

EXPLOITATION. >> KMBC 9 INVESTIGATES IS GETTING SWAMPED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT FILTHY, UNHEALTHY LIVING CONDITIONS IN AREA APARTMENTS. >> KMBC 9’S MATT FLENER IS HERE. MATT YOU GOT SOME INSIDER INFORMATION TODAY ABOUT A COMPLEX YOU HAVE BEEN IN A NOW ALL WEEK ARE IT >> TONIGHT, A WHISTLEBLOWER -- WEEK. >> TONIGHT, IT WAS A LAYER -- WHISTLEBLOWER WHO SAYS HE WAS FIRED FOR REPORTING PROBLEMS ABOUT MAINTENANCE TO CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE’VE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE BACK FROM AN OWNER IN THE COMPANY MICHAEL FEIN, TO MR. FORBES COMPLAINTS. >> IF IT IS NOT ON A WORK ORDER, IT IS NOT YOUR BUSINESS. I FELT LIKE THAT WAS WRONG. >> HE CAME TO KMBC NEWS AFTER SEEING IT. >> SMOKE DETECTOR DON, FIRE TINCTURES MISSING, ALSO AIR-CONDITIONERS BUSTED DURING >> THE ISSUES WERE REPORTED BACK TO MANAGEMENT -- BUSTED. >> THE ISSUES WERE REPORTED BACK TO MANAGEMENT. >> I’M TELLING YOU, YOU WOULD WANT TO QUESTION THIS. >> WE GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY, BUT WE HAVE HEARD FROM VARIOUS RESIDENT AND THEY ARE STARTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THERE ARE ISSUES

Advertisement Maintenance man says he was fired for reporting code violations to city Michael Fein says Ray Forbes fired for different reason Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A former maintenance worker at a group of apartments KMBC 9 News has investigated for weeks says he was fired for reporting the apartments’ problems to code enforcement.Ray Forbes did maintenance at a several properties owned by KM-TEH investors.The investor group has faced dozens of complaints about broken air conditioners, missing fire safety equipment, mold and cockroaches at 11 of its properties across the Kansas City area.“It’s more ‘Shhh. You didn’t see anything. It’s not on the work order, it’s not your business,’” Forbes said about management’s response to his complaints. “I just felt like that was wrong.”Forbes said he got hurt on the job, and the management never helped him with worker's compensation. “As a maintenance technician with inside information I am telling you, you definitely will want to question this company. They do not care about the tenants,” Forbes said.One of KM-TEH’s owners, Michael Fein, responded to KMBC 9 News with the following statement about Forbes' claims."The HVAC contractor hired to make the repairs is not an employee of TEH but only a sub-contractor."Fein also said Forbes was fired for a different reason. KMBC 9 News is still investigating.“We are confident that we are making the necessary repairs to our properties and we are also confident that we are hiring the skilled contractors to make those repairs.” Fein said. “As you may know we took over the property and it had deferred maintenance from the previous owner. We are working on fixing mistakes and we will continue to do so for our residents.”KMBC 9 Investigates also checked with the Kansas City Health Department. The Health Department has had 50 complaints at four KM-TEH properties since Kansas City started its Healthy Homes initiative in 2018.“So far, they are doing the due diligence in responding to our concerns, our citations,” said environmental health manager Naser Jouhari.Since KMBC 9 News started investigating KM-TEH investors, several people have come forward concerned about mold, trash and leaky faucets. KM-TEH runs 11 complexes across the metro area with roughly 1,600 units. South Kansas City apartment complex finally gets working air-conditioning Apartment maintenance problems prompt complaints to Missouri attorney general South KC apartment residents still without A/C KMBC 9 Investigates broken air-conditioning units at Nob Hill ApartmentsKMBC 9 News has set up an easy form to report your problems. We will use this form in our future reporting.Click on the form to fill out, by following this link.If you have a consumer complaint about KM-TEH’s properties, the Missouri attorney general’s consumer complaint hotline is always open.