Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

Columbia, WACH)--Mara Flemming moved to the Country Walk apartments near the Harbison area in November.

But it has been a nightmare ever since. Her apartment was broken into days after moving in. Then she started noticing bed bugs.

"If we have bed bugs, I needed to report them within the first 48 hours of us seeing them."

The Columbia College student said management has violated her lease by refusing to fix the problem. According to Flemming's lease, she cannot get her own extermination company, and that she must contact property management. But she said all she has gotten in return is one excuse after another.

"Either they did not have the proper insurance to do commercial properties or they were not skilled to treat bed bugs themselves. She assured me that this would be taken care of when I came back from my honeymoon. When I got back, nothing had been done."

Jimmy Sims with Modern Extermination said bed bugs are a big problem that can be very expensive to solve.

"The feed off the human blood. They will bite you and you will get welts just like with a mosquito bite."

WACH contacted the Country Walk leasing office. But a spokesperson said no one can comment on tenant situations.

Flemming said she has to keep her mattress and clothes outside; and can only stay in her living room and dining room. It is taking a heavy toll.

"My back hurts. My joints hurt. My daughter, I don't let her waddle on the carpet. And she is five so that is difficult."

The newlywed said she contacted an exterminator who offered to work on the entire complex; charging $15 per apartment. She said the manager declined because it was too expensive. Flemming is withholding her December rent; and does not have the money to move again.

"People are paying almost $900 to live here and have to live with bed bugs," Flemming said. "That is absurd. You could have taken three apartments and use their rent to do the entire complex. And then for all of our rent to go up an additional $20 to rectify a situation? It is unacceptable."

Flemming has contacted DHEC and the Magistrate's office. She is starting a petition and meeting with other residents to hear their complaints.