While all but two of the tenants in the 13-unit Thornwood Manor apartment building at 1028 Inverness Rd. have moved out, Brent Summerfield remains.
The Thornwood Manor tenant of 12 years has a Sept. 20 telephone hearing with the Residential Tenancy Branch and a representative of the new owner, VPEA.ca, to dispute a Sept. 1 eviction he calls a renoviction. The only other remaining tenant .
VPEA bought the building (which was listed for $3.35 million) this spring and subsequently filed eviction notices on June 21 to the residents of all 13 units to be out by Aug 31. Summerfield was told the building will be repurposed to host international students studying in Victoria, which is VPEAB次元官网网址檚 business model.
The June 21 eviction notice given to Summerfield declares the owner had B次元官网网址渁ll necessary permits and approvals required by law to demolish the rental unit, or renovate or repair the rental unit, in a manner that requires the rental unit to be vacant.B次元官网网址�
However, as of Aug. 30, the District of Saanich had yet to issue any permit for 1028 Inverness Rd., according to Saanich spokesperson Kelsie McLeod.
B次元官网网址淚n this instance [Saanich] has no record of permits for the building though we are in contact with the owner,B次元官网网址� McLeod said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been proactive in reaching out to let them know they need to have permits in place if they plan to do a [significant] reno.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 possible that VPEA have since applied for a permit. However, to evict the tenants without a permit is premature. A representative who answered the phone on behalf of the VPEAB次元官网网址檚 Victoria office wouldnB次元官网网址檛 comment on the building.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 highly irregular for them to have done this,B次元官网网址� said David Hutniak, CEO of Landlord B.C., which provides support for its members, including landlord-tenant disputes. B次元官网网址淭he course of action of tenants is straight forward, itB次元官网网址檚 contradictory to the [residential tenancy act].B次元官网网址�
In the meantime, Summerfield has not found a new place, although heB次元官网网址檚 looked.
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Summerfield is paying $890 for his one-bedroom but heard fellow former Thornwood tenants who recently moved out are now paying $1,150 and $1,250 for similar places.
B次元官网网址淵ou think [the owner] could have been a little more courteous if thereB次元官网网址檚 no finalized plans, perhaps give us six months to move out or something,B次元官网网址� Summerfield said. B次元官网网址淚 think they jumped the gun and were rude to everyone with two months notice before they even got approved.B次元官网网址�
In preparation for the Sept. 20 hearing, Summerfield was sent an email from VPEA dated Aug. 24 which he shared with the Saanich B次元官网网址. It confirms an application for a building permit had not been filed with Saanich.
It also lists the plans to repair/replace the stairwells from the third floor to the ground level, to change/remove/repair most items in the building including kitchen cabinets, sinks, some toilets, some tubs, and to replace/upgrade all windows, as well as much more, including a variance request to convert part of the buildingB次元官网网址檚 rear parking lot into a multi-purpose room (which would have to go before council).
