Poorly constructed building: the RBQ adds to their nightmare

The tiles continue to fall on the heads of 16 condo owners in a poorly constructed building 30 years ago in Saint-Jérôme. After having each invested $40,000 for emergency work, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) is now forcing them to extend $8,000 per unit.

• Read also: 48 condo owners will have to evacuate their poorly constructed buildings

• Read also: No help from the City of Saint-Jérôme for the 48 owners in trouble

“People have run out of money. No one is able to pay for that, ”laments the president of the Syndicate of the co-ownership of 640 rue Castonguay, Claude Beauvais.

The building has 16 four-room units worth approximately $200,000 each. It is in such poor condition that the total value of the work is estimated at $4.2 million, or $262,000 per dwelling.

The newspaper exposed the situation last month.

Following our article, RBQ inspectors went to assess the condition of the building as well as two identical ones located right next door, at 600 and 620 of the same street.

Results? In a notice of correction sent on October 24, the public body asks the 16 co-owners of 640 Castonguay Street to correct the listed non-compliances.

This work, estimated at $120,000, or $8,000 per unit, must be carried out within 30 days, otherwise the owners risk fines of $1,000 to $6,000.

“I don’t understand the mission of the RBQ. They don’t inspect when it’s under construction, but they come and inspect followingwards, and it’s us who have to pay for what they haven’t checked,” says Mr. Beauvais.

The bus driver in his fifties has already relocated at the beginning of October, for fear of seeing his ceiling literally fall on his head.

Of the 16 owners of 640, there are only 7 left to live in the building, by the way.

In order to avoid fines, they must all have left the premises before November 23. “Because we’re going to vote ‘no’ to spending $8,000 each, that’s quite obvious. We have already paid enough, we are not rich,” he said.

A meeting is scheduled with the Member of Parliament for Saint-Jérôme, Youri Chassin, on November 8, but hopes of receiving his help are slim.

Mr. Chassin explained to the Journal last month that it is “a private matter”.

As for the City, it is of the same opinion and offers no assistance to the 48 co-owners of the three buildings, who are left to their own devices.