Toronto Community Housing is assuring tenants that they will soon be relocated to Swansea Mews that they will be offered a suitable place to stay and that they will be able to return home once the complex is secure.
In a technical briefing on Monday afternoon, housing agency CEO Jag Sharma said they have lined up temporary accommodation at several post-secondary institutions and hotels for residents and are in the process of securing them. long-term options.
However, a schedule has yet to be provided for tenants to return to their homes.
All of this stems from a May 27 incident when a cement panel on the roof of a bedroom fell and seriously injured a woman.
This collapse caused TCHC to temporarily relocate a number of nearby tenants. Anyone who felt insecure could also apply for a move.
Days later, the homeowner learned that the problem was more widespread than they thought and announced that all tenants in the resort would have to move so that more assessments and repairs could be made.
On June 12, the City of Toronto, based on reports from third-party engineers, took things a step further and issued an “Order to Fix the Insecure Building” to the TCHC banning the occupation of the complex. from the far west.
Will Johnston, Toronto’s building manager, said the city had a responsibility to act after the faults found in the prefabricated slabs used to build the complex posed an “immediate danger”.
“The longer people stay, the greater the risk,” Johnston said, adding that he hopes tenants will comply with this emergency order and “margin alone.”
He said the emergency order “replaces” any eviction notice issued by the Ontario Board of Landlords and Tenants and anyone who chooses not to comply could be taken to court.
Parkdale Legal Clinic, which has been assisting tenants throughout this process, refutes this claim.
“The Residential Leases Act (RTA) provides that rents may only be terminated in accordance with the RTA, which is by agreement, abandonment or by order of the Board of Landlords and Tenants,” the staff attorney wrote. Samuel Mason in a June 13 letter. .
“No provision of the Building Code Act (which is the basis of the emergency order) may invalidate the security of tenure provided by the RTA. We have informed Swansea Mews tenants of their legal right to stay in their units “.
Mason said the temporary relocation agreements offered so far have been “inadequate” and do not offer tenants a “similar quality of life” and do not take into account their family composition, including children’s access to schools.
“Tenants are understandably concerned about the conditions of temporary accommodation, as TCH has not given any guarantees on the expected date of return,” he said, adding that tenants should not be “harassed to gladly accept accommodation”. inappropriate and unacceptable alternatives for themselves and their families. “
Sharma said he appreciates the move being “incredibly disturbing and annoying” for tenants, and is committed to doing everything possible to help them in both the short and long term.
Assuring people that their rental in Swansea Mews will not be compromised, he said that at this time enough temporary accommodation has been arranged along with supports for the approximately 420 residents of the resort. Adequate three- and four-bedroom units for residents to stay for an extended period of time are also in the process of aligning, said Sharma, who also pledged to provide residents with as much information as possible and to respond to any ask what they have. can have.
Noah Slater, TCHC’s senior director of capital planning, said what happened at Swansea Mews was a “spontaneous, sudden and brittle failure.”
He said that after the roof collapsed, props were installed, followed by two types of tests: electromagnetic scans and a more destructive hammer method.
Engineers advised that all panels in each unit be tested after 3 of 14 such slabs were defective, Slater said, adding that they are now in the process of examining the properties of their portfolio to see if others must also be evaluated.
This emergency comes just months before TCHC plans to issue a call for proposals in 2023 for a $ 30 million revitalization of Swansea Mews.
“This is heartbreaking on all sorts of levels,” Slater said.