‘Good luck, and don’t let the door hit your behind’: Tillsonburg apartment dwellers say they’re being renovicted

Tenants at a Tillsonburg apartment building say they’re being renovicted from their homes. Their landlord disagrees. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell investigates.

Some tenants at a Tillsonburg apartment building say they’re being unfairly evicted from their homes, and with short notice.

“Pure BS is what it is,” exclaimed David Craig.

Craig lives in Canterbury Court, at 70 Devonshire Ave. in Tillsonburg with his brother, Robert Craig.

“I’m kind of choked,” said Robert. “It was really short notice. They could have done this way differently.”

The two have been in the apartment for 10 years and suddenly find themselves having to pick up stakes and look for another place to hang their hats.

“I [have to] find a place to live because otherwise I’ll be homeless, and the situation is horrible in this town for renting anything,” said Robert.

Last month, tenants received a letter from Mississauga-based property owner Rex Brondial explaining that their tenancy is being terminated.

The letter states that apartments are being updated and asbestos is being removed. It explained they could move back in when work is complete after eight months - but made no mention of how much they would pay in rent.

They were also given a choice of accepting $5,000 in compensation if they move out by the end of march.

“We understand that this news may come as a surprise, but it is essential for the necessary work to be completed to keep up with rental market conditions,” said the letter.

“We had a week or two to decide on this whole cash buyout, if you want to call it that, of the current tenant lease you’re in,” said tenant Chuck Howse. “‘Good luck and don’t let the door hit your behind.’ Hopefully the cheque cashes, and that’s about it.”

CTV News asked property owner Rex Brondial for an interview to respond to the renoviction allegations.

He would not agree to one, but did send a series of statements explaining his reasoning for the evictions, and expressing his political views.

“If we don’t fix our buildings, we’re slumlords. If we do fix them up, we’re greedy,” he said in an email statement.

“The socialist agenda has ruined our housing in Canada, and until common sense returns, expect for things to get worse for every Canadian,” he added.

Things did get worse for some of Brondial’s tenants at a building in Chatham-Kent.

Last week tenants at Terrace Forty told CTV News essentially the same story that was shared by tenants at the Tillsonburg building.

“We understand this may come as a surprise, but it is essential that this work be done to keep up with market conditions,” said tenant Gord Harvey, reading aloud from the letter he received from the property owner.

As for the Craig brothers in Tillsonburg, they’re still not sure what their next move will be. They’re just hoping to have a roof over their heads, come spring.

“I’d rather stay here, but when you can’t afford a room, what do you do,” said David Craig.