In a bright green building on Church Street in Halifax, Stacey Gomez sits at her desk, working on her computer. Her home is peaceful, filled with art and plants. Outside workers saws and hammers.
Gomez is one of the last people left in the seven-story building. In March, all tenants received forms known as DR5s asking them to vacate for repairs, and many complied.
Gomez did not sign the form. She said she believes her landlord, Marcus Ranjbar, is trying to “renovate” her for minor repairs and renovations, and she’s standing her ground.
“I really love my place and I don’t want to leave,” said Gomez, who has lived in the building since 2017. “I think I’d be hard-pressed to find a comparable place in this area … or even on the Peninsula.
“I’m worried it will affect my life significantly if I have to move.”
Gomez says it appears that most of the work is done on the exterior of the building and does not require repairs. (Robert Short/CBC)
Renovation occurs when a landlord forces residents to leave a building so it can be renovated, then rented out to new tenants at significantly higher rates.
Nova Scotia’s recovery ban ended on March 21 of this year, when the province’s state of emergency was lifted. The building permit for Gomez’s address was issued on January 13.
The permit listed the repairs as “flooring, trim, baseboards, paint, fixtures, siding.” It is noted that there will be no structural changes or demolition and the new siding will be installed over the old siding.
Gomez said the floors, trim and paint in her apartment were not damaged and did not require repairs.
This building permit is posted on the front door of the home and shows a description of the work being done on the building. (Robert Short/CBC)
“I think it’s wrong for landlords to displace people for more profits, especially when we’re in a housing crisis right now,” Gomez said.
When CBC News reached Ranjbar by phone for an interview, he said he had been advised by a lawyer not to comment.
Freehold
Tammy Waller, managing attorney for Nova Scotia’s social justice service, said recovery attempts have become more common since the ban was lifted.
Wohler said that in addition to having building permits, a landlord who wants to renovate someone must prove to the Residential Tenancy Board that it is necessary for the tenant to move out.
Wohler said renovations have become more common in the province since the ban was lifted. (Paul Poirier/CBC)
“The renovations have to be so extensive that a freehold is needed,” Vohler said. “So, for example, cosmetic repairs … usually don’t require repairs. You know, we renovate our homes all the time.”
Expelled
The owners of the Church Street property are listed in public records as a numbered company, with a man named Mohammad Ranjbar listed as president.
Marcus Ranjbar’s name does not appear in the property registers or the register of joint stock companies, but he presents himself as the landlord and is named as the landlord on Gomez’s DR5 form.
When the building was purchased in December 2021, Gomez said moves were made to evict the tenants, including pressuring them to sign shorter, fixed-term leases.
On March 24, days after the provincial remediation ban was lifted, the building’s manager asked tenants to sign a DR5 form stating that high levels of radon had been found in the building and repairs were needed.
Gomez consulted with legal aid groups in the city to assert her rights and stayed put.
The renovation began on May 31. Gomez was then served with what is known as a Form J for termination of tenancy and vacant possession for repairs.
A hearing is scheduled for early August to determine whether Gomez will be allowed to stay.
The building permit lists flooring, baseboards, trim and paint as interior work, but Gomez says her apartment doesn’t need those repairs. (Robert Short/CBC)
Wohler said that until the hearing, Gomez is still a tenant and has the same rights as before.
“The landlord-tenant relationship still exists,” she said. “So the tenant must continue to pay the rent as is their obligation under the lease, and the landlord must also maintain and maintain the building.”
“Pressure Tactics”
Gomez said her landlord is failing to do that and is holding up the renovation to “send a message.” When her toilet broke in June, she called to request repairs. She said that Ranjbar hung up on her and refused to fix the toilet.
Gomez hired a plumber out of pocket to fix the toilet. Then she noticed a hole in her deck and a similar situation followed.
“The landlord sent me an angry message that I was staying for my own selfish reasons, that I was putting my own safety and the safety of his workers at risk by staying,” Gomez said.
Gomez says her landlord is shutting down maintenance on her apartment while she makes repairs. (Robert Short/CBC)
She said it got to the point where she didn’t feel comfortable in her home.
“It’s definitely been quite stressful and I’m concerned about what will happen next if the pressure tactics continue to escalate,” she said.
Gomez said she feels knowing her rights is her greatest defense and hopes her story will help others become more aware of their own rights.
“I definitely think information is power,” she said.
Add Comment