A Hamilton author is fighting an eviction order that he says will put him in a tough position to find new housing. He says his landlord wants to move in, even though other units have been vacant.
Bill King has been living at an apartment building on Sanford Avenue South for around eight and a half years. He’s a writer, and pays $657 a month.
“It’s a good rate, I’ve always paid it.”
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But, in August of last year, King says his landlord served him an eviction order. “Got a notice from the landlord saying he wanted me to move out in 60 days so that he could move in.”
King says he was confused because other units have been available.
“The one on the top right was available a couple months ago but he rented that out immediately and didn’t move in there, I thought that would be a golden opportunity if you need a place. Makes me skeptical, I’m not a mind reader, but it makes me skeptical if he really intends to move in.”
King says when he received his eviction notice, he immediately contacted ACORN Hamilton, a tenant rights group. He says together, they’re going to fight this at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
ACORN did not want to appear on camera, but over the phone, members told CHCH News they suspect the landlord is not planning to move in, but rent King’s unit at a higher price.
They’re calling it a “bad faith eviction.”
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“The tribunal has to conclude that his requirement for the apartment is genuine. The best result would be either the tribunal officer decides not to issue the eviction order for the reasons I referred to, or maybe the owner decides to withdraw the application, and simply wait for the next available apartment to come up if he’s really interested in moving in here.”
CHCH News reached out to the building’s landlord, Sean Little and he says he does intend to occupy King’s unit himself. He says he will follow the Landlord Tenant Board’s process and maintains the eviction is fair.
