Chilliwack tenant wins compensation following eviction, but has yet to see the money

Even though the Residential Tenancy Branch ruled in Catherine Seymour's favour, getting her compensation isn't proving to be easy.

A Chilliwack woman plans to keep fighting for the money she’s owed after being evicted from her rental home last year. Even though the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) ruled in Catherine Seymour’s favour, getting her compensation isn’t proving to be easy.

The 64 year-old, who is living on a disability pension, is preparing herself for the next phase of what’s been a challenging and overwhelming process. Last year, Seymour and three others at a Chilliwack rental property on Dublin Drive were given two months' notice to leave.

“We’d moved in there because it was a nice house,” Seymour said, as she recalled moving into the home in 2020.

“It was a big yard, I could garden, and they wanted long-term tenants.”

The house on Dublin Drive ended up being sold, and it was indicated on a form to end the tenancy that the new owner or a close family member planned to move in.

But after the stated vacancy date on June 2, 2021, Seymour said the home was being advertised for rent again for hundreds of dollars more than the $1,950 they had been paying per month.

“Sure enough, there it was, up for rent for $2,900 a month,” she said. “I responded to one of the ads and said, 'Is it still for rent?' Yes it is.”