East York tenants in Park Vista have successfully challenged an attempt by their landlord to impose an air conditioning fee.
CAPREIT, which had 2016 operating revenue of $596.8 million and 2016 net operating income of $366.9 million, tried to shake down tenants (including many seniors on a fixed income) for a seasonal fee of $125 per air conditioning unit.
The Park Vista tenants’ association was in place and they were able to organize, mobilize and fight back (along with the help of the media and the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations).
Refer to these attachments:
1- Capreit AC noticepdf
2-Park Vista Air Conditioning Notice
3- Capreit AC Follow-up Response
Links to media coverage are below:
Tenants at East York apartment building ‘ecstatic’ after landlord ditches air conditioning fees
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ toronto/east-york-apartment-ai r-conditioning-1.4234743
East York Tenants Battle Over Air Conditioning
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/more /consumer-alert
Given the challenges tenants face, local tenant advocates are meeting to discuss common issues that might help activists learn from one another. A tenant advocate in the Broadview/Mortimer (12 Bater Tenant Association) area is arranging to get some local tenant advocates together for an informal, in-person ‘fun night’ meeting at Whistlers Restaurant. The goal of ‘fun night’ is to have neighbours get together with their local tenant association in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. It will also be an opportunity to network and focus on how to improve tenant education and familiarize tenants with their rights.
Date & Time: Thursday, August 24th from 7:00 to 10:00 pm
Location: Whistler’s Pub, 995 Broadview Ave, East York, ON M4K 2S1
Contact: mailto:tentsinaction@gmail.com
East York Tenants Group 