‘I don’t know what I’m going to do’: Tenants of Sarnia townhouse complex say they’re being renovicted from their homes

Residents of a Sarnia townhouse complex received renoviction notices from a landlord who owns Tillsonburg and Chatham properties. Bryan Bicknell reports.

In the past week, CTV News London and CTV News Windsor have reported on alleged renovictions taking place at buildings in both Chatham-Kent and Tillsonburg.

Now residents of a townhouse complex in Sarnia have reached out, saying that they’re also being told to vacate their homes - by the same property owner.

“I can’t afford the rents that are out there now. I can’t afford it,” explained Jodi Rand, a tenant at 852 Exmouth St. in Sarnia.

She’s worried sick that she’s about to lose her home.

“I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m slightly disabled, so I have a hard time walking, and everything. Now I’m expected to pack up a house, and move a house, and do all these things. How?” she asked.

Rand recently received word from her new landlord that she has to move out because her unit is being renovated, and asbestos must be removed.

“This is the first time hearing about it. And as far as I know, pretty much any old building in Sarnia is going to have a little of that in it,” she said.

Rand says all tenants received the same letter.

“We have to be out by the end of May. And if we would like cash for keys deal, they’re offering us $5,000 to be out by the end of March,” Rand explained.

“Understand that these letters are just merely letters without any power to actually end your tenancy,” explained Douglas Kwan, director of advocacy and legal services for the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario.

Kwan says tenants can only be ordered out pending the outcome of a legal tribunal.

“In order to end their tenancy, they need to prove their case at the Landlord and Tenant Board. So, my advice to all the tenants is to get proper legal advice from their local legal clinic. So, they can know their rights and properly respond to these threats,” said Kwan.

In the meantime, some tenants have enlisted the support of Sarnia Coun. Bill Dennis.

Dennis says he has filed a motion calling for a bylaw to prevent renovictions. He tells CTV News he adopted the template from a City of London bylaw.

“We have to protect our most vulnerable, and if we don’t, we’re going to see a lot more of this happen. And it’s just going to cause all sorts of social problems,” Dennis said.

CTV News once again reached out to Rex Brondial, the name on the property company correspondence associated with the buildings in Sarnia, Tillsonburg, and Chatham-Kent but have not received a response.