Mar 7, 2026
An elevator outage is inconvenient for most renters. For older adults with limited mobility, it can mean being trapped at home.
That’s what happened to residents of St. Giles Manor II in Pinellas Park, Florida, where an elevator serving the six-story rental building went out of service for nearly three weeks, according to Fox 13 Tampa Bay (1), leaving many residents stranded.
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The building is marketed as a senior apartment community, with housing designed for older residents — many of whom rely on the elevator for medical appointments, groceries and other daily necessities (2).
The outage left some unable to leave their homes.
“It’s really rough, because I have this oxygen right now,” resident Sharon Dugger told Fox 13. “I get short on breath.”
Dugger, who lives on the fourth floor, said she must take the stairs with her oxygen equipment to make medical appointments.
At least Dugger can use the stairs. Some of her neighbors on upper floors cannot, leaving them stuck.
Residents told Fox 13 they were frustrated with inconsistent communication from management and repeated delays.
When a mechanical failure becomes a financial problem
For older adults on fixed incomes, being stranded is expensive. Extra costs may include grocery delivery, transportation to medical appointments and paid caregiving help.
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Even modest expenses can strain retirees who rely on Social Security benefits — an average $1,976 in early 2025 according to the Social Security Administration (3).
St. Giles Manor residents told Fox 13 they had not received any financial compensation for the outage.
Prolonged elevator outages can raise legal questions about landlord responsibilities.
Under Florida landlord-tenant law, landlords must maintain essential services — including elevators:
"A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part shall not cause, directly or indirectly, the termination or interruption of any utility service furnished the tenant, including, but not limited to, water, heat, light, electricity, gas, elevator." (4)
Tenants and landlords must also comply with local building and housing codes governing property maintenance.
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Accessibility rules may also apply in some cases. The U.S. Department of Justice enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires certain housing providers and public facilities to meet accessibility standards (5).
In a multi-story building designed for seniors, a non-working elevator can create serious accessibility problems, especially for residents who use wheelchairs, walkers or medical equipment.
And in federally subsidized housing, property owners must ensure building systems remain safe and operable — including elevators.
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What renters can do when essential services fail
Documentation is vital. Tenants should record dates and duration of outages, notify management of issues in writing, keep copies of repair requests and save receipts for extra expenses they incur as a result of the outage.
Residents can also contact local code enforcement if repairs are delayed. Municipal inspectors can investigate potential violations and order corrective action.
Tenants with disabilities may be able to request reasonable accommodations under federal fair housing law, such as temporary assistance while repairs are underway.
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Legal aid organizations and housing authorities can also help renters understand their rights and options.
And there's power in numbers.
"As with any situation affecting the habitability of the building, I urge tenants to try to deal with these things as a group if they can," Sam Himmelstein, a lawyer representing residential and commercial tenants and tenant associations, told Brick Underground (6).
Himmelstein also suggests forming a tenant association.
"In every way, it makes you more powerful, and if you eventually have to spend money on an attorney, doing it as a group makes it more affordable and makes it harder for the landlord to retaliate."
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Fox 13 (1); St. Giles Manor 2 (2); Social Security Administration (3); Florida Senate (4); Americans with Disabilities Act (5); Brick Underground (6)
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With a writing and editing career spanning over 13 years, Emma creates and refines content across a broad spectrum of industries, including personal finance, lifestyle, travel, health & wellness, real estate, beauty & fitness and B2B/SaaS/tech. Her versatility comes through contributions to high-profile clients like Moneywise, Healthline, Narcity and Bob Vila, producing content that informs and engages, along with helping book authors tell their stories.
