July 1st has passed, and apartment building owners are dismayed by the deplorable condition of their units. TVA Nouvelles visited the Saint-Léonard borough of Montreal on Thursday followingnoon, where a family has turned an apartment into an actual garbage dump.
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Upon arrival, a thorough cleaning of the premises was underway. This is the task that Anthony De Angelis, the owner of the apartment ransacked by a family in the Jean-Talon Street area, is diligently engaged in full-time these days.
Photo courtesy | TVA News
“It’s unsanitary,” Mr. De Angelis lamented in an interview on Thursday.
After two years of occupying the apartment with a lease, the tenants transformed a brand new, completely renovated unit into a garbage dump.
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“I don’t understand how they managed to live here,” the owner continued. “Everything was damaged. I had renovated the apartment, everything was redone, the paint, the floors, the bathroom. [Maintenant] everything is demolished. They even tore off the bathroom door. They ripped off radiators.”
Photo courtesy | TVA News
The tenants – two adults and three children – quietly absconded without paying rent for the last three to four months. The unpaid amount totalled nearly $1,900 per month for a massive two-story apartment. And that’s “not to mention the damages,” Mr. De Angelis says.
Photo courtesy | TVA News
“What I find deplorable, what scares me, is that the tenant works in the health sector,” he confided, dismayed. “I would be afraid to get treatment from her because I found syringes and items that come from hospitals and the CLSC.”
Photo courtesy | TVA News
The office of the Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, says it is exploring various options concerning the security deposit. They are striving for a balance between the rights of tenants and those of landlords.
Photo courtesy | TVA News
However, the Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec (CORPIQ) continues to argue that landlords lack the resources to assist them in these unfortunate situations.
“Unfortunately, CORPIQ is still asking itself why we can’t ask for a security deposit,” says CORPIQ director Éric Sansoucy. “It’s the only place in North America where it’s not possible.”
Photo courtesy | TVA News
“We should ask ourselves whether the problematic, at-fault, and sometimes ill-intentioned tenant would perhaps think twice before doing things like that and leaving their accommodation in that state if one month’s rent was put as a security deposit, because there are practically no remedies,” he continued.
Photo courtesy | TVA News
For the owner, who now has to clean up and repair the damage to his home, the ordeal is far from over.
The family who resided in the apartment for two years also left behind a substantial amount of belongings that the landlord cannot discard. Regulations dictate that Mr De Angelis must keep and store these items for a period of 90 days in case the tenants return to collect their possessions.
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Montreal Apartment Left in Pitiful State by Tenants, Owner Left to Clean Up the Mess
The followingmath of July 1st has left many apartment building owners with a bitter taste in their mouths as they discover the state of their units. In the Saint-Léonard borough of Montreal, one particular case highlights the extreme consequences of irresponsible tenancy. A family has transformed their apartment into a veritable garbage dump, leaving the owner with a monumental cleanup task and significant financial losses.
A Nightmarish Reality for a Montreal Landlord
Anthony De Angelis, the owner of the apartment, is currently engaged in a full-time, arduous cleaning operation to restore the once-renovated unit. The family, who occupied the apartment for two years with a lease, left behind a scene of utter devastation.
“It’s unsanitary,” Mr. De Angelis expresses his disgust in an interview. “Everything was damaged. I had renovated the apartment, everything was redone, the paint, the floors, the bathroom. [Now] everything is demolished. They even tore off the bathroom door. They tore off radiators.”
A Home Turned into a Dump
The tenants, comprising two adults and three children, departed the premises clandestinely, leaving behind months of unpaid rent. The accumulated debt amounts to almost $1,900 per month for a spacious two-story apartment. This sum excludes the substantial costs associated with repairing the extensive damage.
Mr. De Angelis describes his shock at the extent of the destruction, saying, “I don’t understand how they managed to live here. There were needles and other medical supplies, some of which came from hospitals and the CLSC. Knowing that the tenant worked in the health sector makes this situation even more disturbing.” The owner’s fear of potential health risks associated with the contamination left behind further adds to the unsettling nature of the situation.
The Fight for Tenant and Landlord Rights
This case underscores the ongoing debate regarding tenant and landlord rights, particularly in relation to security deposits. The office of the Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, acknowledges the need for a balanced approach that protects both parties.
The Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec (CORPIQ) emphasizes the lack of sufficient resources available to assist landlords in these unfortunate scenarios. Éric Sansoucy, director of CORPIQ, highlights the unique situation in Quebec compared to other North American regions, where security deposits are not permitted. “CORPIQ is still asking itself why we can’t ask for a security deposit,” he points out. “It’s the only place in North America where it’s not possible.”
The Need for a Security Deposit System
CORPIQ contends that a security deposit system might deter irresponsible tenancy and provide financial protection for owners facing such dire consequences. Sansoucy argues that “almost no remedies exist” to compensate landlords for damages left behind by tenants. He believes a security deposit system might act as a deterrent, compelling tenants to consider the potential financial repercussions of their actions.
A Long Road to Recovery for the Landlord
Mr. De Angelis’ struggles are far from over as he faces the arduous task of restoring the apartment and dealing with the mountains of belongings left behind. Quebec regulations require him to store the tenants’ possessions for 90 days in case they decide to retrieve them, adding another layer of complexity to the already challenging situation.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by landlords in Quebec in the face of irresponsible tenancy. The lack of a security deposit system creates an imbalance, leaving owners vulnerable to financial ruin and the burden of managing unacceptable living conditions.