Some units vandalized after Temple Hills condominium tenants ordered to vacate

TEMPLE HILLS, Md. - Some tenants who were forced out of their Temple Hills apartment complex earlier this week returned to find the places they once called home damaged by vandals.

Lynnhill Condominiums, the complex that hundreds of families were forced to abandon after utility bills were not paid by the condo association, has been without power or gas and under emergency watch since Tuesday.

Some families remained after the order to vacate was given and other tenants safe-guarded their homes by installing padlocks on the doors. However, other families made the decision to hastily gather their belongings and leave.

On Thursday, FOX 5's Melanie Alnwick made her way inside of the darkened building where she met a family whose unit fell prey to vandals. Tara Lyles lived on the fifth floor of the building with her mother and child. She said the housing was affordable but the situation at the complex grew increasingly worse over time. Luckily, they were able to move their belongings to safety.

"No…not really," she told Alnwick when asked if she had any hope of recouping her rent money, "I wish I did." Lyles said her mother and brother spent the night in their car overnight and that on Thursday she met with a different property management company who may be able to waive some fees for displaced residents.

The Lynnhill Condominiums board will hold a rally at 1 p.m. at the County Administration building to try and push for an extension that could allow residents up to six months longer in the building.

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