MONTREAL - Tenants in an apartment building in Park Extension may be moved at the owner's expense if a report from public health officials confirms the building is too unhealthy to live in.
Tenants say the building on Stuart Ave. is contaminated with mould, which can be seen throughout the walls and furniture in one of the units.
Tenant Malik Ali said his children have suffered nose bleeds, his wife has experienced headaches, and he has had asthma attacks.
Ali said he pays $650 per month for the home, and public health officials have urged him to moved out within two weeks.
Now the borough of Villeray – St. Michel – Park Extension is promising to take quick action if the health department confirms the worst. The report is due Thursday.
"Should they render it unlivable, at the expense of the owner, the residents will be moved," said Mary Deros, Park Extension councillor.
The owner of the building, Claudio Di Giambattista, was found by the city six years ago to own a building so desperately in need of repairs it took over, repaired it and billed him.
Deros said the city has not yet been reimbursed.
"It's still in the courts for us, (we're) trying to collect the money," she said.
Last night, Ali recorded on his cell phone video of a furious Di Giambattista, who visited Ali at his home. Ali said he called police, but chose not to file a complaint.
"I'm afraid he's going to do it again. That's why I told the police to please tell him not to talk with me next time," he said.
The previous tenant also filed a complaint with the city over the living conditions, but Park Extension housing activist Andre Trepanier said the file hasn't yet been settled.
There are six inspectors for the borough.
"We knew that the previous tenant complained to the city before July 1 and this tenant complained after July 1, recently. I want to know what the city did," he said.
The borough is advising all tenants who have a problem with their landlords to call 3-1-1.
