KAWARTHA LAKES-A group of tenants who recently received renoviction notices held a protest on Wednesday, October 2 in Lindsay.
Almost all of the tenants living in a 20-unit building at 201 Lindsay Street South and 9 townhouse units at 195 Lindsay Street South received eviction notices during the last week of July. Lindsay Apartments Inc., who purchased the properties in June, say evictions are necessary for “major renovations” they have planned.
“Following a comprehensive assessment this work has been deemed a critical health and safety concern. Regrettably during the renovation period your unit will be uninhabitable. Regrettably, we have no choice but to terminate your lease” said the notice sent to Lamoureaux and seen by Kawartha 411.
The landlord provided tenants with an N13 “Notice to end your Tenancy” form from the Landlord and Tenant Board. The work detailed in this notice says “non-structural walls dividing the kitchen and living room will be removed to create an open-concept layout. The unit is set for major renovations including new bathroom tiles and bathtub, new flooring throughout, new kitchen cabinets and an island, new kitchen appliances, replacement of closet doors, updates to lighting fixtures, switches, and electrical sockets and the replacement of risers.”
Tenants say while the building does need some maintenance there’s nothing listed in the proposed renovations that would be deemed a critical health and safety concern.
Tenant Susan Lamoureaux has a two-bedroom unit and pays just over $1,000 a month. She told Kawartha 411 she is worried she won’t be able to find another apartment she can afford.
“I’m scared of not finding housing or adequate housing and kids having to leave my care because I don’t have housing anymore.”
“We don’t know anywhere you can get rent for even close to what we pay. What are we going to be homeless in a few months?” said Darian who has lived on one of the buildings for 9 years.
The average price of a two-bedroom apartment in Peterborough and the Kawarthas is $2,000 per month according to a report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Many of the tenants feel the owners want them out so they can hike the rent. Lamoureaux says a few tenants who are paying much higher rents have not yet received the notices.
“It’s mindboggling, an awful thing to do to people. My son pays market rent and he didn’t receive a notice. They are going to renovate and then increase the money flowing in here and pull the rug right out from under us from coming back.”
Kawartha 411 News contacted the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB) which said it could not offer an opinion or comment on the legality of a specific Notice of Termination, but could provide general information about the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and the LTB’s procedures.
Under section 50(1) of the RTA, a tenant must be served with a Notice to End Tenancy (N13 Notice) if a landlord wants to end a tenancy and evict a tenant to either:
- demolish the rental unit;
- convert it to a purpose other than residential premises; or
- do repairs or renovations that are so extensive that they require a building permit and vacant possession of the rental unit.
Read the rest of that story here: https://www.kawartha411.ca/2024/08/07/dozens-of-families-receive-renoviction-notices-for-apartments-in-lindsay/
In September the City of Kawartha Lakes issued a Cease Work Order on the two properties.
According to the Order posted at 195 and 201 Lindsay Street South, Lindsay Apartments Inc and its President Michael Klein were ordered to stop all renovations until a building permit has been obtained. According to the order, the fees have not been paid and all documentation received.
