SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Residents at Pebble Creek in Lake Mary say they were told they could return to apartments Seminole County still considers unsafe for occupancy, raising new questions about who told residents they could go back — and what happens next for families still stuck in limbo.
The county told News 6 no authorization has been granted for anyone to be living in units still tagged “unsafe for occupancy.” In a statement, county officials said residents were only allowed a short window to enter affected units and collect personal belongings.
But at the complex Tuesday, News 6 found signs on apartment doors showing some residents are back inside.
One sign read: “We are inside the apartment. We cannot afford to live anywhere else.”
A resident who spoke with News 6 said his brother and sister-in-law live in one of the affected units. He said after residents were forced out, the complex told them they could return — even though, he said, nothing had changed.
“We’re told to leave and come back and nothing changed,” he said.
The resident also said the complex did not offer displaced families money to move elsewhere.
“They were just giving credit on the apartment lease, not money to get out,” he said.
When News 6 told him Seminole County says no one is allowed to be living in the unsafe units, he responded: “Honestly, that’s a little concerning.”
He said being back is not about feeling safe. Instead, he said, families are trying to figure out what to do next.
“It’s more comfortable being back right now just so that we can get things out,” he said. “But I’m also worried that they’re going to come and be like, ‘Hey, get back out.’”
News 6 reached out to Pebble Creek management multiple times Tuesday to ask who told residents they could return and what displaced families are supposed to do now, but had not heard back as of Tuesday evening.
Seminole County said it did speak with property management Tuesday and that management has now engaged an engineer.