WHY SHOULD I JOIN?

Two years ago I joined residency with my fiancé at 775 Concession. Life at our place was quite nice with the awesome view over looking the city and the friendly attitude of our neighbours. The property managers, although not perfect took very good care of the buildings. For some strange reason they were dismissed and CLV Group took over as the management company.

One of the first things they did was give us a choice of either driving, cabbing, busing, or walking to their office on Pearl Street to pay our rent. If that was too much of an inconvenience for us they allowed us to arrange automated banking payments. What better way to get us to sign up for preauthorized bank withdrawals... (This was their first manipulation tactic on us!) Unfortunately, the amount they charge us can be changed at their leisure and without our consent!!

Wouldn't you know it? The following month they overcharged us! Apparently it was because of our extra parking spot. First of all I was allowed by a neighbour to park in her spot because she wasn't using it. Secondly; When a Landlord provides an extra space for a tenant, the Landlord and Tenants Act clearly says that a land lord may only charge what it costs to provide such a spot and if they cannot divulge such information they can only charge a “Nominal Fee” $25.00 is not a “Nominal Fee” to the average renter. Even $5.00 per month is pushing it!

CLV has also given us one main entrance key for every building. I know many tenants are opposed to this idea, especially since the break in and assault that occurred recently...

Our Illustrious Property management company also likes to take their time when it comes to repairs of our apartments and upkeep of our grounds.

If you go into the Administration office with a complaint or a simple request like “Can you fix the hole in my bathroom ceiling so the people upstairs cant see me go pee?” They seem very interested and concerned about our problem. However we all know nothing is done within an acceptable time frame!!

The problem is on a singular level we are nothing to CLV group but an unimportant annoyance as they try to take care of the simple management of the buildings.

There are many other apartment communities that have formed “Tenants Associations” because when Property Managers and Landlords get requests from one large group of people it tends to make them take notice because the last thing they want is a Class Action suit!

775 Concession Street is slowly becoming an undesirable place to live because Management is starting to “Slum it”

How often do you see over flowing dumpsters and recycling bins?

I wonder how much garbage 

I can spread around the lot today?

The answer to our problems is simple: Subscribe to this “ Concession Alliance" blog to join our association!

I've been waiting too long, Please don't leave me behind!!

Here you can voice your opinion or complaint so we can organize a plan of attack to get what we need to live safe and comfortably in our homes.

You can also read about important news and updates.

If you have an idea such as a community event for all of us, voice this as well.

We may not all be friends here, however we all have the same interest when it comes to safety and comfort!

Here are some other reasons to start an Association:

Why organize tenants into associations?

There are many reasons why it is advantageous to have a tenants' association for your building or your community. These include:

• To improve yours and your neighbours' living conditions, whether your concerns are about maintenance, safety, or improper actions by the landlord or their employees;
  
• You and your neighbours are having trouble dealing with the landlord, property manager or superintendent and are looking for a strategy to deal with it;
  
• There is strength in numbers. It is more difficult for bad landlords to pick on a group than on individual tenants;
  
• To get moral support from others and so you don't feel alone and isolated in your fight;
  
• To share the work and resources. The more of you there are, the more work that can be accomplished, and the less work for each of you;
  
• For the diversity of skills and opinions available. New people may bring in new good ideas not considered before;
  
• For continuity. It is very useful to keep a history of the landlord as they are likely to repeat past strategies and habits. With tenants moving in and out, a long-term association can keep records on the landlord over many years.
  
• To get involved in bigger issues in your community or beyond, whether it be fighting to save a community pool, creating a community garden or organizing to bring back real rent controls
  
• It is your legal right to have a tenants association. That is the law! Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, Section 23:

• A landlord shall not harass, obstruct, coerce, threaten or interfere with a tenant.

  The fine for individuals guilty of such an offence (including the landlord, superintendent, and other employees and agents of the landlord or property management,) are liable for fines of up to $25,000, and for corporations up to $100,000, under sections 238 (1) and 238 (2) of the Residential Tenancies Act.
  
  
• P.S. Tenants do not have to pay for Air Conditioning, not even if its in your lease!!
• VOICE YOUR CONCERNS BECAUSE YOUR NOT ALONE!