More eviction notices for Vancouver apartment tenants

Residents of a downtown Vancouver apartment building say the property managers have issued eviction notices to 34 more units, but the building's owners say the evictions are necessary for renovations.

The eviction notices arrived the same day the property management company made a public offer to let two other tenants of the Emerald Terrace stay in the Nelson Street building, after concerns were raised about their eviction.

Originally the Hollyburn Properties Ltd. had planned to evict Lynn Stevens, an 82-year-old cancer patient who had lived in the building for 40 years, and 15-year resident Andrew Simmons, so it could use their suites for the building's caretakers.

But then the property management company relented and offered to move them to similar renovated suites in the building, for the same rent.

Simmons and Stevens said they have not yet decided if they will take Hollyburn up on its offer. But since getting the offer to stay, Simmons says more tenants in the building received letters telling them they'll have to go.

"Thirty-four units have been notified that they will be evicted for upcoming renovations. And of the 34 units, it includes a number of seniors in their 70s and 80s. It also includes a number of the tenants who successfully fought the pet evictions last year by Hollyburn," said Simmons

In 2008, Simmons led a successful fight against Hollyburn after it threatened to evict 10 cat-owners from the building.

"The letters were delivered yesterday and the claim is that there's going to be significant construction in the building, but miraculously anyone who pays a higher rent is not being evicted," said Simmons.

The renovated suites rent for about $400 a month more than the unrenovated suites, according to Simmons.

The company issued a statement on Thursday morning saying the evictions were necessary to complete $2 million renovation of the building, that will include new plumbing, smoke alarm upgrades, rewiring and structural improvements.

"This was a very difficult decision that we spent a lot of time making. We didn't want to disrupt the tenants, but the renovations are integral to prolonging the life of the 45-year-old building," said Hollyburn Properties general manager Allan Wasel.

"As property owners, it's our responsibility to invest in our buildings so that we can continue providing safe and viable rental housing options in the West End for years to come," said Wasel.

Tenants living in suites that have already been renovated at Emerald Terrace will be able to stay in the building through the duration of the project, said Wasel.

The MLA for the West End, Spencer Chandra Herbert, said the eviction arepart of a larger issue

Herbert said the Residential Tenancy Act needs fixing so landlords can't use renovations as a loophole to evict tenants so they can raise the rents in a building.

Section 49 (6) of the Residential Tenancy Act states that a landlord can end a tenancy if he or she has "all the necessary permits and approvals required by law, and intends in good faith, to renovate or repair the rental unit in a manner that requires the rental unit to be vacant."