PELHAM – Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, called on the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing today to uphold the rights of 24 tenants living in the Shorthills Villa Retirement Community in Fonthill.

The residents have been given 30 days notice to vacate their apartments before the retirement community undergoes construction, which is expected to begin in January and could take up to a year to complete. Under the Ontario Residential and Tenancies Act, landlords must give a minimum of 120 days notice and provide alternate accommodations or three months rent to tenants who don’t want to live in those alternate apartments

“Minister, I am asking that you personally intervene in this matter and uphold the Ontario Residential and Tenancies Act to ensure the tenants of the Shorthills Villa Retirement Community receive the full 120 days notice that they are entitled to,” Hudak said.

The building’s landlord is offering alternate accommodations in Welland, but Hudak said many, if not all, of the residents would prefer to stay in Pelham. He added it’s unfair to force them to move on such short notice, and that the move to Welland would make it difficult for them to see family and friends and continue with their usual social and recreational activities.

“They would like the full 120 days to decide whether they want to move to the residence in Welland or to make arrangements to find another place to live in Pelham,” Hudak said. “Regardless of where they choose to go, it is not easy for a senior to simply pack up and move, and it is unfair to force them to do it on such short notice.”

Hudak’s letter to Hon. Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, is copied below:

November 8, 2007

Hon. Jim Watson
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto ON M5G 2E5

Dear Minister Watson,

Firstly, allow me to congratulate you upon your recent appointment as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. I look forward to working with you in your new portfolio.

I am writing to you to on behalf of 24 constituents of mine who reside in the Shorthills Villa Retirement Community in Fonthill. These seniors have only been given 30 days notice by the building’s landlord to vacate their apartments while the retirement community undergoes renovations, which are slated to start in January and last up to a year. I understand – under the Ontario Residential and Tenancies Act – that landlords are required to give a minimum of 120 days notice and provide alternate accommodations or three months rent should the residents decide not to live in those accommodations.

While the landlord is offering alternate housing at a retirement community in Welland, the residents feel their rights as tenants are being violated. These seniors live in this particular retirement community because they want to live in Pelham, not Welland. They would like the full 120 days to decide whether they want to move to the residence in Welland or to make arrangements to find another place to live in Pelham.

Regardless of where they choose to go, it is not easy for a senior to simply pack up and move, and it is unfair to force them to do it on such short notice. Furthermore, should they decide to move to Welland, it will be more difficult for them to see their family and friends and to continue their usual recreational or social activities.

Minister, I am asking that you personally intervene in this matter and uphold the Ontario Residential and Tenancies Act to ensure the tenants of the Shorthills Villa Retirement Community receive the full 120 days notice that they are entitled to. Shorthills Villa is located at 1532 Pelham St. N in Fonthill, ON L0S 1E3. The site administrator, Mike Hasani, can be contacted by phone at 905-892-5094 or via email at shorthillsvilla@cogeco.net.

In closing, please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,

Tim Hudak, MPP
Niagara West-Glanbrook

cc:
Aileen Carroll, Minister Responsible for Seniors
Dave Augustyn, Mayor of Pelham