Archive for July, 2012

Is Rent Control the Answer for Nova Scotia?

Saturday, July 28th, 2012

July 28th, 2012

 

Government Says Rent Control Won’t Be Coming Back!

What is the Latest News about Rent Control?

A couple of regional councillors in Halifax claim they have heard complaints about rent increases.  The want the government to consider bringing about ‘rent control.’

According to Councillor Sue Uteck, people are saying rent payments are too expensive and they simply can’t afford it.

Do they Have Any Concrete Examples?

Uteck claims she heard the complaints while campaigning door to door.  One person she met stated his rent went up $400.  One student said his rent jumped up by $300 a month.  One senior citizen said their rent increased by $350.

Uteck says that while rent control may not be the best answer, what other choices are out there?

What Does the Government Say About Rent Control?

Fortunately the government has no interest in bringing back rent control.  According to the spokesperson for Premier Dexter, rent control is “not something the province is considering or looking at at this time.”

Can You Tell Me the Back Story Behind This?

Rent control end in 1993 under a Liberal government. 

What was the Rental Environment Like Back Then?

The economy wasn’t strong and vacancies were at all time high.  Vacancy rates of over 12 % were common in Halifax.

It was so back landlords were forced to offer things such as free cable television to try to attract tenants.

What is the Vacancy Rate in 2012?

Vacancy rates are much lower.

According to the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation), the rate is 3.2 for Halifax.

The average rent in Halifax for a 2 bedroom apartment is $926/month.

Aren’t the Vacancy Rates Published by the CMCH Misleading?

Yes.  They don’t take small private landlords into account in their study.  In reality, the rates are no where near what the CMHC has published.

Who is the Second Councillor Trying to Use the Rent Control Issue to Get Votes?

Dawn Sloane is a councillor who is running in a newly created riding.  Sloane says she contacted Premier Dexter about rent control and he didn’t even agree to consider it.  According to Sloane, she’s hearing more and more tenant complaints.

What’s the Reason for Higher Rents in Halifax?

Both councillors believe the the Irving shipbuilding contract is the reason reason for the rent hikes.

According to Sloane landlords as “cashing in.”

Why Are Rents Rising in Halifax?

When rents drop and and vacancy rates rise, where were these two councillors?  Where are they on the real issues for rent increases: out of control property taxes and huge increases in the costs of utilities and energy.

Political pandering is alive and well in Halifax.  Fortunately the Premier is aware of it.

 

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What’s Behind the Apartment Where Lucas was Killed?

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

July 7th, 2012

 

What’s the Story?

The landlord of an apartment in Halifax tried for months on end to receive help and get rid of the criminals in her building.

What’s the Significance of this Building?

This was the building where the person named “Corey Lucas” was shot.

Why Can’t the Government Help?

Recently, the Department of Justice evicted thw rotten tenants from the building, at last.

How Did they Do It?

They used the Act known as the “Safer Communities and Neighborhood Act.”

 Did It Achieve the Needed Results?

According to landlord Fatma Askri it was far too little and far too late.

What Happened?

A man named Lucas was shot to death May 25 in an apartment that William Lee Bolliver and his mother, Susan Ann Hawes, rented out.

That’s Horrible!

After two weeks, the building was raided by the  police and 3 people were arrested: Bolliver, Hawes and Harold William Marshall.

Anything Else?

Halifax Regional Police have said the search turned up crack cocaine, oxycodone, drug paraphernalia, even a  handgun, plus ammunition and money (cash).  These three were charged with several drug and weapons offences.

What Does the Landlord Have to Say About This?

Askri said she began trying to clean house herself back in February. At the time, she said she complained to the Residential Tenancies Board that there was drug dealing going on and that she believed her other tenants were in danger.

Askri said she was told that “even drug dealers need some place to live.”

What Else Did the Landlord Do to Try to Solve This?

Only three days before Lucas was murdered, the landlord Askri said she decided the only way to get rid of her troublesome tenants was to give everyone in the building notice to vacate due to renovations.  It didn’t work.

What is the Situation of the Building Now?

Askri said her building is empty and she was in the midst of moving the belongings of two tenants, now in jail, into storage. And she said she is still left holding the bag.

According to  the landlord: “I’m dealing with this the best way I can.”

Askri said she is required to move the goods into storage for a couple of months and then she can apply to dispose of them. All of that costs money, Askri said.

Now, this experienced landlord said she is also getting hassled by her bank.  The bank is concerned that her building is empty and she has no rental income coming in from those units.

“This is destroying my life and what I have worked for.”

Askri said the trouble in the building has also hurt her reputation because citizens believe she was endorsing the drug culture.

“I’ve never even had a parking ticket.”

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Clifton St. evictions planned before shooting

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

July 10th, 2012

 

 

The landlord of a Halifax apartment building where a man was killed last month sent eviction notices to all of her tenants just days before the shooting.

Fatma Askri says she wants to dispel any notions about her property on Clifton Street.

“The shooting really destroyed me because I am not a crack landlord. I don’t run crack houses. I’m a very hardworking lady. I don’t run slum apartments,” she told CBC News on Tuesday.

Corey Duane Lucas was shot and killed in the building on May 25. Two weeks later, police returned to the property looking for drugs and weapons.

Halifax Regional Police said officers have been to the building 47 times since January 2011 — an average of nearly three times a month.

There are nine apartments in the building. Askri said it “became a crack house” when new tenants moved in to apartments 1 and 2.

Askri rented Apartment 2 to William Lee Bolliver and his mother, Susan Hawes, last October. They were arrested after a police raid Friday and charged with trafficking crack cocaine and oxycodone, and possession of a weapon.

Apartment 2 is where Lucas was gunned down. Bolliver was injured in the shooting. Black fingerprint dust was still visible on the door frame Tuesday.

Askri said she regrets ignoring the advice of her property managers when it came to renting to Hawes, who was on income assistance.

She didn’t do a criminal record check like she has done on other applicants.

Askri said Hawes called her crying, begging to be let into the building.

“I messed up with Hawes,” she said. “Because of my compassion, I messed up.”

When complaints about suspected drug activity started to pile up from tenants and neighbours in the upscale building next door, Askri decided the building needed a fresh start.

One month to leave

In mid-May, three days before Lucas was shot, Askri served all of her tenants with eviction notices. She said she told them it was due to repairs to the building.

“I took on myself to clean the building and start fresh again because bad apples spoil the rest of the basket,” she said.

Askri said she’s still shocked by the fatal shooting.

“I was devastated and I still am,” she said. “I didn’t expect this to happen in my building.”

The tenants have until June 22 to move out, but most are already gone. Askri said one woman who moved in last month is getting an extra few months to find a place because she’s such a new tenant.

Hawes, Bolliver and a co-accused are in custody awaiting a bail hearing next Monday.

Police have not arrested anyone in connection with Lucas’ death.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/06/12/ns-halifax-clifton-street-eviction.html

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Dear Halifax Landlords. My dog is less mess and noise then a kid

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

I just wanted to drop a line to all the landlords in Halifax that are anti-dog. I wish you knew how many amazing tenants you miss out on just because they have a dog. And I have to say I find it insulting that childern are ok but dogs are not. Kids are just as, if not more, smelly, destructive and loud as dogs. Stop with the hate. Add love to your leases. Or just an extra deposit if you have a dog. If I had breed myself an offspring I would be responsible for any damage it may incur. I assure you the same is for my furbaby. Damages are damages …yes?

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:sofAae4eyGAJ:halifax.kijiji.ca/c-real-estate-house-rental-Dear-Halifax-Landlords-My-dog-is-less-mess-and-noise-then-a-kid-W0QQAdIdZ370866233+halifax+landlords&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

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