Apartment closed due to safety concerns

Residents of a Brantford apartment complex have been left out in the cold — literally, after an immediate order to vacate due to structural safety concerns.

Many residents of this apartment are seniors who are now expressing confusion over the order to vacate from the city. They say printed documents from their landlord show they must move by the end of January. But inside, you can see the apartment has numerous holes in the foundation, exposed walls, and cracks. There are also problems with the elevator. An inspection by the city’s building department on Tuesday found there was sufficient risk to the safety of the building’s occupants, one of whom says they were completely thrown off guard.

Vicky, resident of closed building: “Handed me a bunch of paper work and just said, you know, you have to get out right away and when do you want to reserve the elevator? And I told them, I don’t even know where I’m going to live — how can I reserve the elevator? I have to find a place to go.”

The city’s housing department will help tenants find alternative accommodations. Residents can also call Brantford’s Housing Resource Centre intake line at 519-759-7009.