Ali Kamruzzaman and his wife have been residents of Montreal’s Parc-Extension neighborhood for 28 years, living in the same apartment despite its deteriorating condition due to years of neglect. The apartment exhibits various issues such as cracked ceilings and walls, damaged countertops, dysfunctional cabinets, and mold in the bathroom. Recently, Kamruzzaman was surprised to receive a notice from his new landlord, proposing a $150 rent hike.
Refusing the substantial increase, Kamruzzaman offered $50 instead, which is almost double the provincially recommended rent raise based on his current rent. This situation is not unique to Kamruzzaman, as other tenants in the area are also experiencing similar pressures from their landlords.
The Comité d’Action de Parc-Extension (CAPE), a local housing advocacy group, reported that tenants in 18 nearby buildings have received rent increase notifications ranging from five to 20 percent from two new landlords who share the same property manager.
The buildings in question were acquired by Marc Lemieux and another landlord last summer, encompassing properties on L’Acadie, D’Anvers avenues, and Birnam Street. CAPE has received over 50 complaints from tenants contesting the rent hikes, with offers being turned down and counter-offers still landing in the $50 to $80 range, deemed as substantial increases by the coordinator, Amy Darwish.
According to Lemieux, the landlords invested $3.1 million in renovations and safety improvements to address over 350 non-conformity notices from the City of Montreal since acquiring the buildings. The rental increases are justified based on these investments, with the average hike being nine percent, although some tenants faced a 20 percent raise due to additional required work on specific buildings.
The Quebec housing tribunal recommended a 3.1 percent rent increase for apartments without major renovations at the beginning of the year, with a higher increase of 4.5 percent for leases renewed before April 1. Housing lawyer David Searle emphasized the necessity for landlords to provide evidence of expense increases beyond 3.1 percent to justify larger hikes.
In conclusion, while tenants like Kamruzzaman are dealing with rising rents and housing challenges, it is crucial for both landlords and tenants to communicate and negotiate effectively to reach fair agreements and address maintenance issues promptly.