P.E.I. housing minister says Waterview Heights tenants ‘won’t be asked to leave’

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — P.E.I.’s housing minister says he has been advised by the brand new homeowners of 4 Charlottetown house buildings that they don’t plan to take away present tenants, regardless of plans to promote some items as condos. 

The 4 house buildings, positioned at Waterview Heights Lane off North River Highway in Charlottetown, have been not too long ago bought to a brand new proprietor by CAPREIT Residences Ltd. The 4 buildings collectively have a mixed 60 items, though not all are occupied. 

Final month tenants acquired a discover from one of many new homeowners, Ian Walker, indicating they might buy their items as condominiums. Two of the items have since been listed for buy for $269,900. 

A few of the tenants have stated it has not been made clear whether or not or not they are going to be requested to go away their houses if they can not afford to buy them.  

Chatting with SaltWire following an announcement on July 12, Lantz stated he has spoken “many occasions” to the brand new homeowners of the buildings. 

“The property proprietor has given me assurances that his intention is to solely promote items as they turn out to be voluntarily vacant,” Lantz stated. 

“He is made commitments to among the residents, among the long-term senior residents of the constructing, that they will keep so long as they need. They will not be requested to go away. And I feel he is doing his greatest.” 

Lantz stated he was advised the brand new proprietor advised him he would handle the property “with as least upheaval to residents as attainable.” 

Lantz additionally stated if any tenants selected to go away, the brand new proprietor would help them in figuring out different locations to remain based mostly on his “connections with different important landlords.” 

Walker had despatched a discover to tenants stating the sale of the buildings was “on account of regulatory modifications within the P.E.I. rental market over the previous yr.”  

However Lantz stated the sale of the buildings was in course of during the last six months, starting earlier than the modifications got here into impact. The sale was not finalized till late Might. 

“The entire course of straddled a whole lot of upheaval within the rental market right here with the introduction of a lease cap after which a brand new Act. So, this explicit property proprietor is caught in a considerably uncommon state of affairs,” Lantz stated. 

An overhaul of P.E.I.’s tenancy legislation got here into impact in April. This adopted the imposition of limits on any lease will increase in 2023 after the province skilled among the highest price of residing will increase within the nation. 

Landlords throughout P.E.I. have stated a zero per cent lease management restrict got here similtaneously they’re saddled with will increase in the price of gasoline, mortgages and upkeep.  

SaltWire tried to succeed in Walker to verify the small print of his dialog with Lantz. By deadline, no response was acquired. 

On July 11, a number of tenants held a gathering with Charlottetown-West Royalty MLA Gord McNeilly, together with Lantz.  

McNeilly stated lots of the tenants have been left in a state of confusion as to the way forward for their houses.  

He stated the proprietor had not clearly communicated whether or not occupied items could be transformed to condominiums, or whether or not tenants may very well be faraway from their houses if the items are bought. 

“The issue is the communication is unclear. It’s not on paper. It is not uniform. There was some discrepancies between what the tenants have been listening to,” McNeilly stated. 

McNeilly stated it was vital for the tenants to know their rights, and {that a} tenant can’t be requested to go away with out being offered with the right varieties from the Island Regulatory and Appeals Fee. 

McNeilly additionally stated the province’s Residential Tenancy Act and the Condominium Act don’t present readability on circumstances concerned in changing occupied rental items to condos. 

“We aren’t used to involving condominiums within the rental markets. And I do not know if there’s a lot laws there,” McNeilly stated. 

One Waterview Heights tenant advised SaltWire on July 17 they’d not acquired a written discover from the brand new homeowners confirming the small print Lantz described. 

Stu Neatby is a political reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He might be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @stu_neatby.