2023-12-01 22:29:00
Watch Véronique Dubé’s report in the video linked to the article.
Mona Robichaud has lived in her apartment for 22 years. His landlord recently sent him a letter telling him that his situation had changed and that he had to move back into his apartment. Ms. Robichaud panicked, she who suffers from fibromyalgia. But when talking about the situation with her five neighbors, she realized that the owner was requisitioning the six apartments in the building.
“These are threats.”
-Mona Robichaud
The man then offered to stay in his home on the condition that she pay between $150 and $185 more per month. She flatly refused and went to the Administrative Housing Tribunal to complain.
She and her neighbor Stéphane Lafrance therefore decided to contact Noovo Info to denounce this way of doing things, especially since one of their neighbors is over 75 years old and probably accepted the forced increase from the owner.
Mr. Lafrance, for his part, invested several hundred dollars in his apartment. The landlord entered his home with the letter and finally showed him a new lease which he agreed to sign upon the threat. “I was a little stuck, I didn’t sign right away. After that an hour later it bothered me too much, I had to call him back to tell him listen, I’m going to sign the lease” But subsequently he said he consulted a lawyer who confirmed to him that it was illegal.
False housing repossessions on the rise?
According to Cédric Dussault of the Regroupement of housing committees and tenant associations of Quebec (RCLALQ), owners abuse this argument. “It’s downright extortion that landlords are engaging in, because they will force people to go against their own rights to accept rent increases that are completely unreasonable.”
Moreover, the RCLALQ recorded 834 housing repossessions among its members last year compared to 482 in 2021. An impossible increase according to the organization which finds it hard to believe that so many owners suddenly need to live in their building, all things considered.
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