Pauline Tramble’s 85-year-old husband, Charles, has dementia. Every day since June, “three, four, five times a day”, she has to explain that they are being expelled.
Tramble says her biggest concern is whether her husband will be able to adapt to a new environment, after 33 years in their second-floor accommodation on Shore Street in Fredericton.
“Some places have elevators and long hallways. He would be so confused. That’s what really bothers me. He knows his directions. [here], he takes his walks. So it’s just an ideal situation that way for us.
This is the latest chapter in the rental woes for the couple, who have faced a 67% increase in their rent last December. This story prompted the Government of New Brunswick to strengthen tenant protectionsand implement a one-year rent cap.
The Trambles were relieved to see a rent cap. But in June, everything changed when the eviction notice arrived.
“I just feel lost,” the 67-year-old said in tears. “We’re so unsure of where we’re going to go.”
From the “courtesy letter” to the “termination notice”
On June 13, DNV Properties Inc. sent the Trambles a “courtesy letter” letting them know that they should start looking for another place to live, as their accommodation was being converted to short-term rental.
But on June 30, the Trambles receive a new letter. It was a provincial “Notice of Termination to Tenant”. He claimed “the owner or his immediate family intended to live on the premises” and he gave the Trambles until September 30 to vacate the unit.
The reason given is one of four exceptions that would allow a landlord to terminate a tenancy in New Brunswick.
Pauline Tramble said she was devastated by the letter, but she was also confused by their reasoning, as there are currently empty units in the building.
“The front apartment is available. It’s supposed to be an Airbnb. And our neighbor’s apartment is going to become available. … Why would they decide to come and live in that apartment?”
When Tramble tried to call her owner, Neda Veselinovic, to find out more about the dismissal, she was rebuffed.
“I tried to reach her when she filed our rent termination, so I wanted to call her and ask her, why, you know? And she saw my number coming up, and she said she didn’t couldn’t answer at the time, she was busy, and she said from now on all our communication would be by email.”
In a subsequent email, Veselinovic told Tramble: “We understand that you are struggling to find accommodation, but we have tried to explain to you several times that we absolutely have to continue with our plan. … The changes we are making are absolutely necessary to save our investment. Please understand that this is not personal.”
Requests for comment made by CBC News via email and telephone received no immediate response from DNV Properties Inc.
The court is “actively reviewing this case”
Pauline said she was eager to hear from the Residential Tenancies Tribunal.
In a statement to CBC, Service New Brunswick Minister Mary Wilson said the court is “actively reviewing this matter which was filed in early July.”
“If the reason is due to the landlord or an immediate family member moving into the unit, supporting evidence will be required and the Residential Tenancies Tribunal will follow up in two months to resolve. ensure that the owner has acted on the change.”
Information morning – Fredericton13:57Pressure on the rent ceiling
A few weeks after the rent cap and some cracks appear. We ask Service New Brunswick Minister Mary Wilson why the legislation includes provisions to circumvent it.
In an interview with Fredericton Information Morning in June, Wilson, who refers to the court as the RTT, said the province’s Residential Tenancies Act provides protection against retaliatory rent increases or terminations.
“East [this] a retaliatory change? Are they in good faith or not? So ultimately the RTT can deny, delay or confirm the termination,” she said.
Pauline said the court’s decision will determine whether they can stay or leave. The court has yet to make a decision on the case, but a rents officer sent an update to Pauline Tramble late last week.
The officer sent the Trambles two digital brochures. One was titled “Housing & Homelessness” and included a list of phone numbers for shelters, outreach workers and the Department of Social Development.
The other digital brochure was titled “Food & Meal Resources” and contained contact details for food banks, churches and other charities.
The emails didn’t give Pauline much hope.
“I’m so anxious and scared.”
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