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During a standoff in Prince Albert last month, police deployed tear gas to get the suspect to come out and in doing so smashed a number of windows. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
Public safety

Landlords Association calls on government to provide better supports to landlords

Apr 3, 2023 | 9:28 AM

The CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlords Association said until the process to remove unwanted residents is made easier, we will continue to see the types of cases like one in Prince Albert last month after a standoff.

Cameron Choquette is responding to recent comments made by the landlord of the home, who relayed to paNOW issues of getting troublesome tenants evicted and not knowing people were squatting.

In the weeks following the incident, a number of other local landlords have contacted paNOW and opened up about their own struggles, expressing feelings of helplessness and frustration.

The man who was the subject of the standoff and eventual arrest, Colton Lafond, is facing a number of charges including robbery and attempted murder. His next court date is on April 4.

Choquette explained stories such as this are very familiar, noting members have struggled to convince the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) that an emergency eviction is required. He added the burden of proof is far too high on behalf of the ORT, and that there should be some degree of trust and discretion granted to the landlord.

“When it comes to crime, health, safety and the risk to people and property, landlords know what’s best and they deserve timely access to justice,” he said

It’s clear there were multiple people sleeping in this downstairs bedroom. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Choquette added the eviction process needs to be allowed to be carried out swiftly, otherwise the risk for significant damage increases.

“And really in this case we have a landlord now that is not going to be able to provide that house to someone else who may desperately need it,” he said.

A walk-through of the home revealed a number of broken windows, which were the result of police entering the home to make the arrest. A lot of other interior damage was also visible including holes in walls.

Choquette explained members are often reporting people on income assistance are the ones trashing the property and so social services should be on the hook for damages.

“But unfortunately our members day in and day out take losses because these tenants cannot afford to pay for the damage they’ve done and the government won’t cough the money up,” he said.

When paNOW contacted the Prince Albert Police Service and asked if there was any sort of compensation program for landlords, the answer was no.

Issues related to landlords and unruly tenants are not a new story and was a topic of discussion during a recent Ward 3 community meeting. Councillor Tony Head explained as a result of those discussions, the city is pursuing options and a meeting between the city and landlords has been scheduled to take place in May.

Under new ownership, Amber Apartments is getting a major overhaul. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Last January, Tony Zuey purchased the Amber Apartments building in Prince Albert’s Midtown area and soon after, as part of a massive renovation plan, provided the existing tenants with two months’ notice to vacate.

“About half the tenants that were there were selling drugs and the other half were using drugs,” he explained, adding there was also evidence of people doing needles in the hallways.

While the courts were not required this time, Zuey, who owns a number of other properties in the city, said he is familiar with the concerns raised by the provincial landlords association. He explained that the court process can sometimes take at least four to six weeks.

“Which means tenants will stay there and in a lot of cases they will switch the power and gas back to your name so on top of paying the rents, you are also paying the utilities,” he said.

With respect to his plans going forward, Zuey said the renovations would include upgrades to the heating and electrical systems. He added if you want to have good tenants, you need to make sure you have a good place for them to live.

When paNOW reached out to the provincial government for comment, a statement was provided on behalf of the Integrated Justice Services branch.

The statement explained that Under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, the rights of both landlords and tenants are balanced. Landlords have the right to seek an order from the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) to end a tenancy for several reasons, including the non-payment of rent and physical damage to the property.

“If a landlord incurs physical damages to a property or suffers a monetary loss for which the landlord claims the tenant is responsible, the landlord may make a claim against the tenant’s security deposit or, if applicable, the Ministry of Social Services’ letter of guarantee, and/or file a monetary claim against the tenant with the ORT.”

The government statement indicated the ORT receives a high volume of inquiries from landlords and tenants for various issues, including the ending of a tenancy.

The ORT’s Dispute Resolution Facilitators can be reached at 1-888-215-2222, ORT@gov.sk.ca, or in person at their Regina or Saskatoon offices.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

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