Tenants in Williamsbridge say the conditions of their building are unlivable - from a broken elevator to rats and unreliable heat.

Muhammad Hussan is an 82-year-old dialysis patient. He says his apartment is a living nightmare.

"We are not animals, he thought we are like animals here in the building," said Hussan.

Hussan is talking about 655 Burke Ave., that he says has been steadily declining.

"The heat doesn't work in the wintertime. Without heat, we cannot live," said Hussan.

Spotty heat is just scratching the surface of problems. The elevator has been faulty for months, forcing Hussan and his elderly neighbors to climb flights of stairs up to their six floor apartments. Hussan says he can't do it without assistance and was stuck at the bottom of the stairs waiting for help earlier this week.

"I can't do it," said Hussan.

Benjamin Tifa's 93-year-old mother also lives in the building.

"She has two broken knees; she has to go up and down the stairs for the last seven months I believe," said Tifa.

Tenants say their building has fallen to disrepair under F&M Management. The building has been slapped with 325 violations from the Housing Preservation and Development department.

Holes in the walls and floorboards have become so large that rats are infesting tenants apartments. Some say they have resorted to suffing rugs in the holes to prevent the unwanted rodents.

There is no good news in the kitchen either, tenants say the cooking gas has been out for nearly a year.

Andy King is a community activist advocating for the tenants.

"Its wintertime and its cold, and there is no reason families should be standing out here to beg the landlord do what he's supposed to do," said King.

News 12 called the landlord and when questioned about the issues at the building he said, "it's not true" and hung up the phone.