Tenants who are registered at the Balmoral and have lived there for up to five years would receive two months’ rent – some $950. Those who lived there up to 10 years would receive three months’ rent – some $1,425.
VANCOUVER – The landlords, their harshest critics have called them “slumlords”, of the condemned Balmoral Hotel told the media they’ve put together a compensation package to make the lives of their soon-to-be evicted tenants easier but advocates are warning to tenants should beware of the gift.
The infamous Sahota family owned condemned Hotel Balmoral is offering a few months rent which could be a carrot for some of the impoverished and addicted people who live in the Hastings strip hotel to take the money now, even though they could be in line for much more money later through a class action lawsuit, advocates say, reported CTV News.
“We have to be careful to make sure the tenants aren’t being coerced. Are they signing away their right to come back? Are they signing away their right to get compensation? There’s all kinds of questions,” said Wendy Pederson, a tenant organizer.
“I would tell them to wait it out, don’t sign any papers.”
But through an agent, the Sahota family says it’s the least they can do for a group of people who face homelessness if they can’t find another place to live when they are evicted on June 12.
“We don’t think that’s fair, and we think this little piece of money may help remedy their life circumstances,” said George Metrakos of Metro Vancouver Property Management.
The compensation package includes forgiving June rent, paying for some moving costs, paying for cable and telephone hookups, and paying back rent on a sliding scale.
Tenants who are registered at the Balmoral and have lived there for up to five years would receive two months’ rent – some $950. Those who lived there up to 10 years would receive three months’ rent – some $1,425.
The Balmoral Hotel was deemed unsafe to occupy and at risk of collapsing by the city earlier this month, with officials claiming the building owners have maintained unacceptable conditions for decades.
It’s not the first time Sahota properties have been in crisis. Ten years ago, the roof caved in on another Sahota property, the Pandora Hotel. And the Regent Hotel, across the street, is also among those targeted in two class action lawsuits.
