Nanaimo tenants rally against “reno-viction” at Victoria Rd. apartment building
NANAIMO — A Nanaimo landlord is being accused by tenants of illegally evicting them and undercutting affordable housing options in the city.
Past and present tenants of 250 Victoria Rd. gathered in front of the building Wednesday morning, protesting moves by landlord Guy Bouchard to raise rent from $650 to $900 per month allegedly for renovations.
Tenant advocate and former resident Courtney Deneal told NanaimoNewsNOW other tenants were pressured into the new rental agreements, which are larger than the four per cent allowed by the province, and the move will mean less affordable housing in Nanaimo.
“We all lived here for a reason, because it was cheap rent,” she said. “I told the new landlord I didn’t have the money to just give an extra $300…as an upcoming professional, just graduated from university (and) trying to get my foot in the door. The majority of people here can’t but they signed (the rent increase agreement) out of fear because they don’t have to move, because they’re seniors.”