NDG tenants say landlord pressuring them to leave, making them live in poor conditions
Global News
The tenants say the landlord of the Grand Boulevard apartment complex is purposefully neglecting the building and avoiding repairs in order to get them to move out.
Tenants on Grand Boulevard in Montreal’s NDG district say they’re concerned they are being pushed out of their building after the front door buzzer stopped working — the latest in a series of things going wrong in the apartment complex.
The property’s management, however, insists this isn’t the case.
Dr. Myrna Lashley, one of the tenants, says it’s more than an issue of inconvenience. “So let’s say that you order food, or you have a package coming, but more importantly let’s say someone gets sick — there’s no way to let paramedics inside if you can’t get to the front entrance of the building,” she told Global News.
On Friday, Global News witnessed a Canada Post worker who was unable to enter the building to deliver mail. Renters who spoke to Global allege it’s the latest tactic by the landlord to force them out.
“They’re trying to do whatever they can to make our lives as difficult as they can so that we want to leave,” said Josh Kimmel, one of the tenants.
Other problems in the building the renters claim are additional pressure tactics to get them out include the broken garage door, the broken lights in the stairway, and the unkept grass and bushes in front of the building.
Tenants say the landlord did not respond to multiple complaints about the issues, some of which pose serious safety risks.
According to them, the issues started when a new owner took over the building in July and spoke to tenants about leaving.