Côte Saint-Luc tenants currently living without adequate heating and hot water

Residents of an apartment building in Côte Saint-Luc say they are currently living without adequate heating and hot water in the midst of winter.

Oswaldo Bentti, who lives in the apartment with his two boys, said caring for them under these conditions is a nightmare.

“The cold at night has affected a lot of my day-to-day,” Bentti said.

He's one of nearly 10 residents denouncing the situation at the building.

Bentti has lived in his apartment for seven years.

He said the property changed ownership about two years ago and since then it hasn't been easy dealing with the new owner.

“They don't care if we complain. So, this is the reality right now and since they bought the building,” the father of two said.

The Mercer Group, which owns the building, declined CTV News' request for an interview.

Bentti’s neighbour, Yann Chabane said he is also frustrated.

“We can do nothing, and we are paying for this amount- for the conditions that we have in the lease. We feel very stressed,” Chabane.

It's all the more nerve-wracking, he said, given that he has a two-year-old daughter, and a newborn expected in the coming weeks.

“Meanwhile we are suffering and there are elder people, pregnant women and children and even if it's not that, we are humans, we are paying for service that we are not getting,” Chabane added.

According to the tenants, heating and hot water is included in their leases. Moreover, as per the housing by-laws of the city of Montreal a building owner must ensure a minimum temperature of 21 degree Celsius for all living spaces.

However, Chabane said this is not the case.

“We spent at least one week in December without heating and or hot water,” he explained.

Chabane, Bentti and the other tenants have taken their concerns to the Quebec’s housing tribunal.