2023-08-23 19:10:00
A building manager denounces a tenant who left her duplex in extremely unsanitary conditions in Montreal, to the point where a team of specialists took five days to clean up all the excrement that lined the floors.
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“Honestly, I was really disgusted. It was agony to get into that,” says Giancarlo Carangelo, still in shock.
The manager of the rue Lepailleur duplex, in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (HMH) borough, entrusts the Journal never to have recovered one of its rented accommodations in such an unsanitary state. Its tenant, Natasha Marcotte-Côté, reportedly fled the apartment in early July with her four children.
The tenant, Natasha Marcotte-Côté, and one of her cats. Photo taken from Tasha Harry Cote’s Instagram account
“We had written on the lease that she was not allowed animals. She had some, but in addition, the tenant was breeding illegally in the duplex with bad practices. […] There were at least 5 cats and two dogs for that, ”says Mr. Carangelo, with a sigh.
See the video below of the unsanitary duplex:
Supporting video and statement
Our representative obtained a video of about a minute where we see the completely dilapidated duplex after the departure of Ms. Marcotte-Côté.
In this sequence, the floors of every room and even the balconies are filled with animal excrement. Cages for dogs and cats are also soiled with feces. Garbage accumulates everywhere on the floor and on the counters. A man shooting the video even has to wear a mask because the smell is so unbearable.
Floor of the dwelling in question covered with animal excrement and rubbish. Screenshot from a video provided by Carangelo Management
“We didn’t have [d’autre] choice [que] to pay for a cleaning service. We ended up with a $3,100 bill to get all that out. The company was there for 5 days, a solid 60 hours,” laments Giancarlo Carangelo.
The duplex manager intends to sue Natasha Marcotte-Côté before the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL) to reimburse him for the cleaning costs and at least one month’s unpaid rent.
The city of Montreal also sent two notices to the tenant for the excrement of her animals, in April and May 2023. A bailiff also gave her a statement of offense, according to a document from the borough obtained by our representative. .
A visit notice from the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough given to the tenant because of excrement in her home. It can be read that this is the second opinion and that a report was given to him by a bailiff. Photo courtesy of Carangelo Management
Injured and abandoned cat
Susan Mackasey, from the PetitsPawz shelter in Montreal, confirms that she was called to the duplex for an abandoned cat.
Susan Mackasey and Benji, the rescued cat in the tenant’s rented duplex. Photo courtesy of Susan Mackasey
“His skin was burnt with feces and we had to take him to the vet. He is better, but he was in very bad conditions, ”explains Ms. Mackasey.
She denies everything
The Journal contacted the tenant to tell her about her old duplex. She denies having left him in such conditions and accuses the manager of being responsible for it.
“He changed the locks and I couldn’t clean up or pick up the cat before leaving,” defends Natasha Marcotte-Côté. She adds that animals were also allowed in her lease.
Giancarlo Carangelo, however, replied that the locks were changed only after his departure, at the beginning of July, and that no animals were allowed in the duplex. The tenant also claims that she has stopped raising animals.
However, our representative informed her that her Instagram page where she sells Bengal cats is still active. Ms. Marcotte-Côté finally deactivated the page in question after our call.
The Instagram account where Natasha Marcotte-Côté promoted her breeding. She has deleted the page since Le Journal contacted her on Wednesday. Screenshot of Tasha Harry Cote Instagram account
Note that the mother and her four children live, for the moment, in a hotel room provided by the Municipal Housing Office of Montreal.
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