'We won't go' tenants tell new landlord as renoviction protest heats up

Dozens of tenants living in two London, Ont., apartment buildings purchased recently by a new owner were involved in a tense protest Friday advocating for their right to stay in their homes. 

Renters of all ages gathered Friday in the parking lot of 1270 and 1280 Webster St. in London's Huron Heights neighbourhood to advocate against efforts to have them leave. Many are on fixed incomes and have lived in their apartments for years. The protest was organized by the tenants' advocacy group ACORN.

Emotions quickly ran high with one tenant being shoved by a man in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey who said he was acting as security for the company. Several police officers were on hand, with another company representative handing out trespass notices to reporters and others on site.

None of the people who claimed to be working for the company would provide their last name. Requests by CBC News to interview someone from the company received no response. 

Ten-year tenant Anne Landry received a letter threatening eviction last week and she came outside on Friday to join the protest. 

"I don't like it one bit," she said of the landlord's tactics. "It's not right, most of the people here are seniors who've been here a long time and a lot of them are handicapped. You don't do that to elderly people. Leave us alone, we're paying our rent." 

London-Fanshawe MPP Teresa Armstrong and Ward 3 Coun. Peter Cuddy were in attendance with both saying the landlord is in the wrong.

"The truth is, what they're doing is wrong, and these people won't have a place to live. I saw someone on the phone talking to police trying to intimidate the speakers and for people to leave. Those tactics speak to the way they're talking to those tenants inside the walls. I find it despicable," said Armstrong.   

The letters sent to tenants last week said they had to leave, and would have their leases terminated, because the apartments required extensive renovations. 

Representatives of ACORN have said those letters are intimidating and don't spell out a tenant's right to return to their apartments after any renovation work is completed. 

Three tenants told CBC News they were issued N4 notices this week even though they paid their rent. An N4 form is a landlord's legal notice of their intention to end tenancy for non payment. 

Ed Chartrand, who's lived at 1270 Webster St. for 10 years, said he paid his rent with a money order but got an N4 anyway. 

"I didn't sleep for two days and I've got medical issues," he said. 

CBC News has made multiple attempts to contact the new owner without success. The seven-storey buildings were sold on March 30 for $2.3 million to a Toronto-based company registered as Webster Apartments Inc. The director is listed as a Michael Klein with a Toronto mailing address. 

Tenants say they started receiving letters from the new owner telling them their leases were being cancelled and offering them money to vacate their apartments. 

"While we understand this letter may come as a surprise, we are well within our rights as building owners to terminate your tenancy and do the necessary improvements as required," the letter read.