Sudden sale could oust 5 international Western students renting this Old North house

Five students from India studying at Western University on scholarships have been told to leave the house they're renting in Old North, despite having a signed lease with the owner. 

Shivansh Mohan, an honours accounting student, told CBC News he and four fellow students viewed 469 Regent St. in London in early October. They agreed to rent the house for $2,750 a month from owner Matthew Kennedy, who works as a realtor in London. The students paid their first month's rent and were given a set of keys to the house. 

"We really liked the house so we paid him the first month's rent, so that's how we got the place secured," said Mohan.

They were given a move-in date of Nov. 1. 

However on Oct. 28, three days before they were to move in, Mohan says he received a text from the owner saying the house had been sold and their lease was effectively cancelled. 

Mohan was shocked.

"He sent us a text at 11 p.m. and said 'I've decided to sell it,'" said Mohan. "The next day, we had an exam and we couldn't focus."

Mohan said the students moved in on Nov. 1 and contacted Western Legal Services, a non-profit organization which helps students and low-income renters in legal disputes. 

"We were really panicked," he said. "As international students, we didn't know what we can do, like what are our rights here?" 

Lawyer Ian Dantzer works at Western Legal services and took up the students' case. He told them they had a right to live in the house and that their lease is a binding contract. The house sale has a Dec. 15 closing date. Dantzer said he's negotiating with Kennedy to allow the students to stay until the end of the academic year in May or to get compensation if the students leave before their lease expires. 

CBC News reached out to Kennedy. He referred all questions to his lawyer Marcus Lennox, who did not respond to questions emailed on Monday. 

CBC News also contacted the purchaser, who declined to comment. Dantzer said the purchaser intends to start renovating the house immediately after they take possession and to live in the property as a single family home. 

While the negotiations play out, the students say the uncertainly surrounding their living situation is disrupting their academic year. 

Mohan said he and his roommates are serious students on scholarships that could be revoked if they don't maintain a high grade point average.