Fresh off my blog on Friday about an 88-year-old man whose landlord is trying to jack up the rent despite a provincial freeze comes other tales from Burnaby seniors.
They saw that article and have written in saying other landlords are trying to exploit them.
Like Sara, who is a 71-year-old Burnaby resident who has now been evicted twice in two years by landlords trying to cash in on a surging real estate values.
The problem is that they are not following proper procedures with the evictions and have lied about why Sara has to move.
In one case, Sara had to leave a good situation involving $1,100 for a two-bedroom unit. She had to leave, but it was with a lie about the landlord needing to move in a relative. The real goal was to rent the unit out for more money because the province had frozen rents.
So, she ended up moving to a “mediocre” condo that was half the size and $550 more expensive.
“The landlady ‘guaranteed’ it could be long-term. But now, one year later, I'm evicted and there is unbelievable discrimination against seniors,” Sara said. “I have been told: 1) ‘can't rent to someone who uses a cane because my driveway may be slippery and I don't want the liability’. 2) ‘I don't think you should you are a good fit be renting a place with stairs (only four).’ 3) ‘I don't think a senior can keep up with rent increases - we want a professional couple, in fact we also rejected a single mom.’ 4) ‘Oh, you're a senior! You would be home too much...a working person would be out more.’ 5) ‘I just think, as a senior you should be looking for co-op housing.’ 6) ‘We won't rent to a single woman. We want a dual income couple.’ 7) ‘we don't think you are a fit. There is a 2 1/2 year old living upstairs, we want someone who also has a baby or toddler. It is a better fit.’ 8) ‘I just think seniors are less tolerant. Younger renters expect less.’ 9) ‘We want to rent to students. Long-term renters pay less because rents go up faster than allowable rent increases allow for.’
“I have proven the vast majority of landlords will not even respond if I type ‘I am a senior’ in my email. I have had numerous tell me ‘we have rented it’ but in both of these situations if I respond using a different email address and omit ‘I am a senior,’ they respond … I just wish these arrogant landlords, who clearly violate human rights, would recognize their health and youth is not guaranteed. They someday could be in my shoes.”
