Village cracks down on slum landlords - Jul. 15, 2010
By BARB RAYNER
barbrayn@nbnet.nb.ca
BLACKS HARBOUR – The village is cracking down on “slum” landlords and council has enacted a tough new bylaw for residential buildings and premises.
Mayor Terry James said the village also now has a sub-standard properties appeal committee who will identify properties which do not meet the standards.
“We are willing to work with the landlords. If we see an effort being made we are willing to bend over backwards to let them get back to standards but no longer will we tolerate these sub-standard properties where there is no maintenance or upkeep or renovations done on them. It is really unfair for people who need rents.”
James said council has worked on drafting the bylaw for a long time because they identified this as one of the problems facing the municipality.
“Not only is there a lack of affordable housing but a lack of appropriate housing and, unfortunately, we have some landlords who take advantage of some of these unfortunate people. We want to bring standards of properties up.”
James said all municipalities are cracking down on slum landlords and the village is as concerned as anybody else.
“It is disheartening to people who live beside some of these holes and who are spending money to upgrade their properties only to have the place next door stay the same as it was in the seventies. It discourages people from investing in their property.”
“It really bothers me personally when I know there are people and young families living in some of the housing they are. It is not right.”
Property owners must maintain their properties in accordance with the minimum standards for safety, health and welfare set out in the Residential Properties Maintenance and Occupancy Code. If an owner fails to repair or maintain a property in accordance with the requirements of the code they may receive a notice from the building inspector.
If a notice has been given and the owner/occupier does not comply within the time allowed, the village may, rather than commencing proceedings in respect of the violation, have the property repaired and maintained with the cost being charged to the owner/occupier.
Should the cost of carrying out the work become a debt due to the village, a certificate stating the amount due and the name of the owner may be filed in the Court of Queen’s Bench and enforced as a judgment. Until the cost is paid there will be a lien upon the property.
New property owners may be granted time to bring it up to standard, James said, but some troublesome properties in the village have been owned for 20 years or more and they continue to deteriorate. That, said James, is an insult to the municipality.
“It breaks my heart to think there are young families and young kids who don’t have a decent place to live in Blacks Harbour. We are a rent repressed area anyway but everyone wants to live here because of the industry.
“We have to bring the hammer down on some of these slum landlords and hopefully within a few short years properties will be maintained so they are enjoyable to all.”
James said there are a number of duplexes in the village that they will be focusing on to have them brought up to standards. She said people have to feel they are getting good value for their rent money.
“We are desperate for housing here because people want to work. They want to live near their work and we would love to have them. I wish I could build a nice apartment building.”
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