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For tenant Flor Ezel, the protest that is due to start Wednesday in a Flemingdon Park building is not just one of many rent strikes in the city, it's his only option.
"If the rent strike does not work," I do not know what will happen, "she said.
Ezel lives in the building at 35 St. Dennis Drive, near Eglinton Avenue and Don Valley Drive, for nearly a decade, among the 200 tenants who say they are ready to go on strike
Her landlord, Minto Group, has asked for an increase 4.8% rent, well above the province's recently established 1.8% guideline The proposed increase would add an average of $ 32 per month of rent to each apartment.
"I am retired I do not earn enough money to pay for this increase, "she said.
Richard Dickie, Spokesperson For the building owner, Minto Group, says they" would like continue as close as possible to business as usual. " (Sue Goodspeed / CBC)
But Minto Group says that they recently prayed It's the next building, and has since paid $ 5.8 million in structural and mechanical repairs. The proposed increase, says the company, is a way to cover some of these costs"They intend to do better than now," said Minto spokesman John Dickie
. the repairs, it is safe, it is safe for the fire, it is safe for the operation of the lifts, the lighting is safe, the building is much safer than it is. he was not there. "
Given the sums of money that Minto Group has invested in Dickie says that the increase only covers a small portion of the costs.
But Ezel says that Minto does not cover any of the costs. targeted only the major building sectors, neglecting the problems it claimed to be.
"I really do not understand why Minto would like us to pay a rent hike with this situation that has been going on for so long," she said, "It's ridiculous."
"They Pay Less Than Market Rents"
Flemingdon Park is a multicultural community in North York known for providing affordable housing to newcomers Canadians.
But with the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Line It will become one of many Toronto neighborhoods facing increases in rents and real estate.
The building, located at 35 St. Dennis Drive, near the 39 Eglinton Avenue and Don Valley Drive ley, is in a known area. for affordable housing for new Canadians. (Sue Goodspeed / CBC)
It is now one of many battles between long-time tenants, who feel excluded from their affordable apartments, and homeowners, who need to make repairs to old buildings and also "Frankly, for long-term tenants who have received rent control, perhaps they are the ones who are targeted because they pay less than the market rent," said Kevin Laforest, the lawyer. representing tenants protesting.Laforest says legally that Minto Group has the right to increase the rent, but that they need to hear tenants' concerns
"In the Residential Tenancies Act, which is the law, the landlord is allowed to try to recover eligible capital expenditures from tenants, "he said." This does not necessarily mean we have to stay there and let that happen. "
" Whatever the dispute, the tenants have an obligation "
Dickie says the rent increase is approved or not.
" Regardless of the dispute, tenants have the obligation to pay their rent "Dickie said that although deportation is a possibility, there is a long process before the dispute reaches that point." At this point, he said that tenants are not obliged to pay the increase, but that they must pay for it. in which they live.
The lawyer representing tenants on strike, Kevin Laforest, says because of the location of the building, the rent will increase, but the landlord must respond to residents' concerns. (Sue Goodspeed / CBC)
But Laforest, who was involved in a rent strike at Parkdale last year that forced a landlord to retreat from a proposed hike, says that Parkdale example inspired the tenants of Flemingdon. "They will see this through and protect each other," Laforest said.Source link
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