Frustration with landlord leaves Salmon River family at wit’s end

Joey Nahwegaheow is worried about health issues his family may be suffering from because of suspected mould in his rented mobile home. HARRY SULLIVAN TRURO DAILY NEWS

Published on August 3, 2012

Bathroom mould cited as major concern

Topics :

Truro Daily News , Tim Horton’s , Landlord and Tenant Board of Nova Scotia , Salmon River , Bible Hill , Nova Scotia

SALMON RIVER – Joey Nahwegaheow is getting a bit tired of running to a coffee shop everytime he or a family member has to use the bathroom.

And, the novelty of bathing in the outdoors has pretty much run its course, too.

“We go over to Salmon River here and use that,” he said, of himself, his wife Stacey and 15-year-old daughter Elizabeth.

“We don’t come in here, usually,” he said, of the bathroom in the mobile home he recently rented on Montgomery Lane in Salmon River.

“Just to do laundry, in and out. And we go down to Tim Horton’s for the bathroom. The toothbrushes and stuff all stay out there,” he said, pointing to the kitchen.

“We would love to get out of this place but we don’t have two dimes to get out of here right now.”

Nahwegaheow said he rented the home from Dockrey Apartments in Bible Hill shortly after arriving in Nova Scotia from Ontario about mid July. Not long after, he said, his family began to notice strange odours and fungus, mushroom-like growths sprouting out from around the kitchen sink and bathroom tub.

One such growth was evident during a visit to the home by the Truro Daily News on Friday. As well, a large dark stain, resembling that caused by mould, was evident on the back wall of the bathtub surround.

“It’s like a thick smell in there. Sour,” he said.

Nahwegaheow said he was astonished by the reaction of his landlord, Robert Dockrey, when he approached him with his concerns. Ultimately, that led to a point where he said Dockrey refused to discuss the issue with him.

At that point, Nahwegaheow said he filed a complaint with the Landlord and Tenant Board of Nova Scotia and a hearing date has been set for Sept. 6.

He said Dockrey has filed a counter complaint and on Thursday issued a five-day notice to vacate the premises.

“He’s saying if it’s true that there’s mould in there, then it’s uninhabitable …”

And while Nahwegaheow said his landlord has offered to rebate his $325 damage deposit, he believes his month’s rent should also be returned because without it he cannot afford to rent elsewhere.

To further compound things, Nahwegaheow said his wife has serious allergy issues and his daughter is asthmatic and they have both been suffering ill effects they believe is related to the mould.

Based on information on Dockrey’s website, Nahwegaheow believes he has other units available and he said he would gladly transfer to one of those. But that too appears not to be an option.

Dockrey did not return a call placed by the Truro Daily News and a man who initially answered a call placed to his number simply stated: “I figured that was you that’s why I didn’t answer,” before hanging up.

Information found on a website for Dockrey Apartments offers the following description: “Dockrey Apartments offer excellent accommodation for families, couples, and singles. Our properties for rent are clean, well maintained, and extensively renovated. We take pride in our properties and are certain they will please.”

From Nahwegaheow’s perspective, however, they are anything but.

“I asked them just to come in and fix it … they don’t want to deal with it. And as soon as I make a hassle about it, they want me out,” he said.

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local/2012-08-03/article-3045673/Frustration-with-landlord-leaves-Salmon-River-family-at-wits-end/1