Lewis and Cuddy call for moratorium on 'renovictions' as pressure mounts on tenants of Webster Street apartments
CTV
The plight of tenants at the Webster Street apartments in northeast London, Ont. has reached the attention of Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
The plight of tenants at the Webster Street apartments in northeast London, Ont. has reached the attention of Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
On May 29, Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and Ward 3 Coun. Peter Cuddy sent a letter to Minister Steve Clark and Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack asking for a temporary moratorium on so-called ‘renovictions’ until long-term measures aimed at protecting tenants are enacted by the province.
It is in response to weeks of rising tension at the Webster Street apartments where many tenants said they’re being pressured to give up their units ahead of their new landlord’s plan to renovate the two buildings.
Tenant Ron Baker describes the impact that the situation is having on neighbours.
“They’re virtually having a nervous breakdown,” said Baker, who has been offering moral support. “I expect we’re going to see somebody in this building or the other one die because they get so frustrated.”
“It’s really draconian methods the new owner is using, and it’s affecting the wellness and health of the residents,” Cuddy told CTV News London.
On April 5, Clark announced proposed legislation aimed at combating renovictions — when landlords force tenants out of their units for renovations and subsequently hike the rent above the tenant’s ability to pay.
