What's Happening?
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250 Frederick street in Kitchener Ontario, has been purchased by a new landlord who promptly began issuing N13 eviction notices in bad faith. Tenants have been treated extremely poorly. Many of the tenants at 250 Frederick are elderly, vulnerable minorities, and workers in essential services such as health care. I created this web page to try and help these people. This web page is owned and operated independently by Robert Elder. All opinions, resources, and materials expressed herein are expressed on behalf of Robert Elder himself, and are NOT affiliated with any tenant union(s), ACORN, or other community organizations. I am not a lawyer, and nothing here should be taken as legal advice. |
Important Dates
- As requested, I will no longer be posting any information here about upcoming tenant meeting dates or meeting minutes in order to comply with the respective organization's privacy policy. If you are looking for information about these events, send me a message through the contact form and I will put you in touch with someone who can provide information on these affairs.
- My eviction hearing is on February 19, 2025 at 9:00am.
Did You Receive An N13 Eviction Notice?
- Don't panic! An 'N13 Eviction Notice', doesn't necessarily mean that you have to move out! It even says so directly on the fine print of the Official Landlord and Tenant Board N13 that you received: What if you disagree with the notice? "You do not have to move out if you disagree with what the landlord has put in this notice. However, the landlord can apply to the LTB to evict you. The LTB will schedule a hearing where you can explain why you disagree."
- Reading further it says: What if the landlord applies to the LTB? "If the landlord applies to the LTB to evict you, the LTB will schedule a hearing and send you a copy of the application and the Notice of Hearing. The Notice of Hearing sets out the date, time and location of the hearing. At the hearing, the landlord will have to prove the claims they made in this Notice to End your Tenancy and in the application and you can respond to the claims your landlord makes. If the LTB issues an order ending your tenancy and evicting you, the order will not require you to move out any earlier than the termination date included in this notice."
- According to anecdotal reports, it can take many months before a hearing at the landlord tenant board even happens in the first place.
- The new landlord who bought this building, Michael Klein, is extremely famous for using bad-faith N13 'renovictions', and pressure tactics to coerce people into leaving their inexpensive units, or accept higher rents.
- What Should I Do Now? Take time to read up on what your rights are in this situation and be very careful about signing anything! Don't sign anything under pressure! This web page includes links to more information and organizations that may be able to help you in this situation. You should also consider reaching out to a paralegal to review what your options are.
News
On December 18, 2024 the following image of an expired elevator license was taken in one of the two elevators here at 250 Frederick St. According the image below, the license expired eighteen days ago on November 30, 2024:
A tenant reported to me that on December 4, 2024 at around 8:46am, they observed smoke and debris from a recently extinguished fire in the space between the hallway door into the sub basement parking garage door. The tenant stated further: "There was a lot of smoke and evidence left of burnt cardboard and ashes that someone had tried to clean up. I took a photo of what was left behind. Also if no one has said anything about the fact that someone is smoking in that area as well. There are a lot of cigarette butts on the floor the someone is just tossing out the door." The tenant provided the following pictures as evidence of their observations:
Here is a video discussing Village Media's investigation of Michael Klein:
A tenant here at 250 Frederick just messaged me and claimed that another resident told them that the landlord has requested that they start paying extra for water in addition to paying extra for hydro.
Previously, the leases in this building were 'all inclusive', however the new owner has started pressuring tenants into paying extra for hydro beyond what they are obligated to by their leases. For these leases, the cost of hydro is supposed to be already be accounted for by the previously agreed upon rate specified in their contracts.
Previously, the leases in this building were 'all inclusive', however the new owner has started pressuring tenants into paying extra for hydro beyond what they are obligated to by their leases. For these leases, the cost of hydro is supposed to be already be accounted for by the previously agreed upon rate specified in their contracts.
An extremely good and detailed piece of investigative journalism was published that makes a number of new and interesting claims about Michael Klein's business history. The article includes a photograph, purported to be of Michael Klein.
Furthermore, the article claims that Michael Klein has defaulted on a number of other financial and business obligations in the past, including contractors and office tenancy agreements. In the article, it says that the owner of one of Michael Klein's previous office spaces claimed that Klein left abruptly without paying or providing notice that they were moving out. The article also describes the experience of Village Media reporters attempting to visit a residence that is believe to be associated with Michael Klein in North York Ontario:
Furthermore, the article claims that Michael Klein has defaulted on a number of other financial and business obligations in the past, including contractors and office tenancy agreements. In the article, it says that the owner of one of Michael Klein's previous office spaces claimed that Klein left abruptly without paying or providing notice that they were moving out. The article also describes the experience of Village Media reporters attempting to visit a residence that is believe to be associated with Michael Klein in North York Ontario:
As expected the 'fire inspection' was completed today for my unit at around 10:24am. The inspection was very fast and took place in less than 30 seconds. A worker entered the unit, and went directly to the smoke alarm in my hallway and pressed the test button to verify that it works properly. After verifying that the smoke alarm works, the worker left and the inspection was completed.
A couple hours after the second alarm, an announcement was broadcast over the speaker stating that a test of the fire alarm system would be conducted today, and to disregard further alarms. This was in fact the case as the fire alarm sounded intermittently for several hours (as it usually does during the annual fire alarm test).
Later in the day, the following notice of entry form was slipped into my mail slot. The notice says that a routine annual fire inspection will be conducted in the unit, tomorrow October 29 some time between 9 and 5.
Later in the day, the following notice of entry form was slipped into my mail slot. The notice says that a routine annual fire inspection will be conducted in the unit, tomorrow October 29 some time between 9 and 5.
At 8:43am on October 28th, the fire alarm went off for the second time today. By 8:50am the fire alarm had been switched off, and the fire department was already on scene. I spoke with a fire fighter who was interacting with the panel in the entry way and asked him about the possible cause. He said that this alarm had the same origin as the one that happened earlier this morning, and that it was 'likely a faulty sensor'.
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Past Dates
- On October 2nd 2024, an event by ACORN Ontario will take place at multiple locations where renovictions are currently taking place. The full list of times and locations is as follows:
UPDATE:This morning, someone forwarded me an email from 'kw@acorncanada.org' that contains the following update:
"LOCATION CHANGE: For Waterloo Region this event has been moved. We will not be meeting in front of 250 Frederick, instead tomorrow will be an outreach event held at 141 and 149 Borden Avenue."
"Members will be tableing outside 141 and 149 Borden Ave to connect with tenants whose buildings were recently bought by Klein to give tenants information about their rights and help organize the new tenant union!"
- Toronto - 3 Torbolton Dr, 1PM
- Hamilton - 221 Melvin Ave 1PM
- Lindsay - 195 & 201 Lindsay St S - 1PM
- London - 1270 & 1280 Webster - 1PM
- Kitchener - 250 Frederick St - 1PM changed to 141 & 149 Borden Ave - 1PM
- Toronto - 994 O'Connor St, 1PM
The associated Facebook event is https://www.facebook.com/share/EoH84P8ZNRZ8jam5/
- Tuesday July 16th, 2024 at 10am: There is a meeting on July 16 at 10am at Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room. This meeting relates to opposing proposed changes to the parking allowance for the building.
- Monday July 8th, 2024 at 6:00-7:30pm: The next tenant meeting will take place at the usual location at 23 Water Street, Kitchener.
- June 22 at 1:30pm, 2024 : Several tenants are organizing a gathering that will take place in Weber Park on Saturday, June 22 at 1:30pm (Or June 23 if it rains). The purpose of this gathering is to provide tenants with a chance to chat, connect, and get to know their neighbours with no agenda. Bring your own lawn chairs, snacks, and drinks. There are a few picnic tables in the park, but probably not enough to seat everyone.
- May 8th, 2024 1pm: The march to city hall is on May 8th at 1PM. Facebook Event Link Meet in front of the building at 1pm, or at city hall at about 1:40pm. Invite everyone you know and wear red if you can so we stand out!
This web page was created, managed, and hosted by current resident Robert Elder, a 7-year tenant of 250 Frederick.