Residents of a notorious apartment block in Toronto have taken legal action, seeking to hold the building’s landlord accountable for years of neglect and hazardous living conditions. Tenants of the infamous 500 Dawes Rd. building in East York have filed two multi-tenant applications with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). These residents are currently facing an uphill battle against dilapidated infrastructure, pest infestations, and a lack of action from the building’s landlord, Carolyn Kreb.
Longstanding Issues Plague 500 Dawes Rd. Tenants
For many years, the residents of 500 Dawes Rd. have been living in progressively deteriorating conditions. From crumbling balconies to water-damaged ceilings and rodent infestations, the list of unattended maintenance issues is long. In July, Mayor Olivia Chow visited the apartment building and witnessed first-hand the water-damaged walls, a non-functioning elevator, and rusted balcony guards.
The Dawes Road Tenants’ Association announced the filing of the applications at a press conference. With the help of legal support, they are now seeking rent refunds. However, they may have to wait up to a year before their case is heard due to backlogs at the LTB.
Historically Poor Maintenance and Regulatory Violations
Former City Councillor for Beaches—East York, Janet Davis, highlighted the severity of the situation. “There are 84 orders outstanding with thousands of violations contained within those orders,” Davis stated. Over the years since 2014, Kreb has received dozens of violation notices. Mayor Chow has promised to leverage the city’s remedial powers allowing contractors to address hazardous conditions, with costs added to the landlord’s property taxes. However, this tool has not been used since 2021.
Dismal Building Evaluation Scores
Under the city’s RentSafeTO program, landlords of larger buildings must register and pay a fee. The 500 Dawes Rd. building currently has a building evaluation score of 34 percent, significantly lower than neighboring properties. The reactive score of the building, which accounts for confirmed notices of violation, orders to comply, and emergency orders, currently stands at -17 percent. Every notice of violation or order to comply results in a 1 percent reduction in the score for a minimum of 30 days.
The tenants of 500 Dawes Rd. continue their legal fight for safe and decent living conditions, shedding light on the critical issue of landlord accountability in Toronto. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining rental properties and addressing tenants’ concerns promptly and effectively.
