Tenants in low-cost rentals scramble after eviction notice

In the midst of an extremely low vacancy rate, people livingin twoCharlottetown buildings with affordable rentssay they've been told they have to move out.

The two buildings, located on Fitzroy Street, contain 17 units. Some of the units are vacant, soit's not clear how many tenants are affected.

One of the tenants, Jordan Bober, has lived in a room in one of the buildings for two years.

He rents theroom and shares a bathroomand kitchen with other tenants.

He told CBCNews his rent is an affordable $485 per month, with utilities and internet included.

Worried for fellow tenants

Bober received an eviction notice from his landlord July 12. It gave him 30 days to move out and although he has been able to find another place he worries for the other tenants.

"They're going to have to look for something that's reallywithin the price range of what they can afford on that fixed income," said Bober. "This was thatsomething."

The application of city policies is ...basically causing people to be rent evicted. Jordan Bober

Bober said he doesn't think his neighbours will be able to find something equivalent in the city.

The eviction notice indicated the reason for terminating the rental agreement was related to a government order.

Fire bylaw violations

According to city officials, a complaint triggered a fire department inspection ofthebuildings in the spring. The fire department issued a hazard compliance order related to both buildings on May 13.

A city officialsaid the fire inspector has been working with the property owner to bring the buildings into compliance.The buildingsarelisted for sale on several real estate websites.

Bober said he doesn't blame the fire department, but he also said the city's enforcement of the rulesis making a bad situationworse.

"I think that all of our city and provincial policies need to work hand-in-hand to protect the currently existing rental stock," said Bober.

Appeal for more time

Bober has appealed his eviction to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission and is awaiting a hearing scheduled for July 26. Hesaid he plans to ask the commission for more time for the tenants to find another place to live.

"This is an instance where actually the application of city policies is ... basically causing people to be rent-evicted," he said.

"Not through landlords rent-evicting, but through cities pushing landlords to rent-evict."

CBCNews reached out to the owners of the buildings but did not receive a response.

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