Text 22778, 103 rader
Skriven 2012-03-24 15:36:02 av HAP NEWSOM (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JIM WELLER
Ärende: landlords
=================
Bonjour Jim!
-> 
->  -> Are there no building codes there?
-> 
->  -> my modified rhetoric question is, "Are there no inspectors?"
-> 
->  HN> Modify it again to: "Are there no HONEST inspectors?"
->  
-> You may be onto something there. But that's such a stupid way to cut
-> corners; batt insulation is dirt cheap and easy to install.
->
I'm sure there are in reality. But it
often seems that the "slumlords" get 
by with putting a coat of whitewash
over the problem...I never seem to get
the same sort of treatment when I have
to have an inspector check some work 
that I have had done to MY house!!

->  -> My town doesn't really have any truly undesirable neighbourhoods.
-> 
->  HN> Most good sized towns and cities have areas 
->  HN> that are in decline or have been in decline
->  HN> for decades. House prices are cheap because 
->  HN> it's not a desirable area to live if one 
->  HN> has the choice and means to live elsewhere.
->  HN> The poor don't have quite as many options
-> 
-> Canadian inner cities simply aren't as bad as many American ones.
-> They may have some pretty bad areas but they simply aren't
-> comparable by several orders of sluminess.
->
I have been to Vancouver BC and can
dispute your claim...you can rephrase
it with the term "Most" or "many"...
for better accuracy. Although I did
not see any really seedy parts of 
Calgary or Edmonton when I visited
there...it may have only been by 
luck that I missed them!
 
->  HN> Our worst slumlord recently went to jail
->  HN> on a contempt of court charge for NOT making
->  HN> court required improvements.
-> 
-> Sounds good so far.
->
Not good enough for many.
 
->  HN> Spent 30 days
->  HN> in the city pokey..then "sold" his slums 
->  HN> to another "real estate tycoon" just like
->  HN> himself (both Russian immigrants) and 
->  HN> bought a whole new set of dilapidated
->  HN> housing units so he's still in business
->  HN> too.
-> 
-> But not a great ending.
->
But it's the usual one. Seems
these guys just keep recycling
the buildings back and forth
between each other and nothing
ever really gets "better".
 
-> We have fire marshalls and public health officials who can and do
-> shut down the worst offenders by condemning a building. Then the
-> building can't be occupied until repairs are made, inspected by the
-> city and a new occupancy permit issued.
->
The operative words are "Can and do"...
we have them as well...but they don't
practice the "do" part very often with
effective results. At least not from 
the perspective of many.
 
->  HN> They can afford to get good lawyers and
->  HN> tenants can't afford (most of the time
->  HN> at least) to fight them./ when people are
->  HN> frightened for their homes, it discourages
->  HN> activism.
-> 
-> We have easily accessible rental arbitration offices run by the
-> Dept. of Consumer and Corporate Affairs whose rulings are as binding
-> as small claims court judgements. I have found them, as a rental
-> agent for landlords, to be overly tenant friendly in their rulings.
->
You have to be willing and able to 
do this sort of exercise. Many can't
afford a loss of a days wages to go
stand in lines all day, filling out
incomprehensible forms, only to be
told "we'll get to it in time".
Also, many are "undocumented" and are
afraid of any governmental involvement that
they feel may jeopardize their status
and ability to stay in this country.
So they shut up and put up with whatever
comes down the pipe at them.
chat with you soon!
hap
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