In Arkansas, a real estate loophole that lets landlords neglect renters

On Dec. 21, 2015, just as Christmas was approaching, the residents of the Alexander Apartment complex in Little Rock, Arkansas, received a notice devoid of the holiday spirit. A hundred families were informed that they would need to vacate their homes in one week. Why? Their complex had been condemned. The fire chief found the conditions at the address to be “life-threatening,” citing problems of mold, exposed wiring and plumbing, to name a few. While the state has building codes, they do not require landlords to provide “habitability” for renters – meaning there is no law requiring a landlord to provide the basics, such as working plumbing, heating and hot water. In this America Tonight excerpt, Christof Putzel meets the residents of the Alexander Apartment complex.