This BLOG is sponsored
by “Misty Hollow
Carving”.
You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a
Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my
Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
The Not-so-good Landlords and
Property Managers of Peterborough
(Warning – this is a 1400+ word
posting that tells the truth!)
Knowing
that people use ‘Search Words’ in their browsers to find things on the
Internet… I really want to entitle this posting, “Slum Landlords and Property
Managers of Peterborough” – but I might get into problems with certain powerful
people.
But hey
if that is the truth why not write about Slum Landlords of Peterborough? Why
not write about rotten to the core Property Managers!?
Well
today I can honestly write about some of the worst personalities of our fine
city(or outside our city). They are really the lowest of the low when it comes
to the way that they treat people and what they offer for housing.
Now this
a pretty strong stance to take as I address this issue… I know. But I know that
these dear folk live in relatively nice houses or I should say REALLY NICE
HOUSES! And they wouldn’t let their dog
stay in the place that they own – let alone their kids or even live there
themselves but they will rent to others with little kids and not give a ding
dong,
Hey
Lincoln… you are really steamed up about this.
Why? What got your tail in a
knot?
Background…
Last
night we visited a young couple that are planning their marriage in the middle
of August 2012. We were warmly welcomed
into their home and offered a wonderful cup of coffee. It was our second meeting as we work together
on their wedding/life plans and get to know each other.
When we
get involved with a couple in this way we want them to know who we are as well
– before I perform the wedding ceremony.
I refuse to stand there in front of God and these two very important
people – and just say some words. This
marriage ceremony means much to me and from what I see it means the world to
them.
The
contact with this couple came as result of a contact at the Peterborough Square
and the “Mall Table Ministry” that I have written about before.
The young
lady dropped by to meet me one day when she heard that I conducted wedding
ceremonies. The young man at an earlier date had also stopped to talk to me
about my art work and had told me that he was interested in drawing. The “Mall Table” had brought us together.
I
am going to give them a name for you to fasten your thoughts to… they are “Miss
K” and “Mr. K”. That should be simple enough to help you connect with them.
“Miss
K” and “Mr. K” each had two children when they came together. In this past year they have now had a
beautiful baby girl together. They have been living together for 5 years and
making a go of it.
Their
story is long and complicated to say the least.
Just getting to this point their lives would require me to write a big
book to tell all that has happened to this young couple so far.
Miss
K is just completing her college studies and will begin her new job
shortly. Mr. K is a stay at home dad
that loves all of the kids and does a real good job at what he does with them.
At
the end of the month of August they are moving to an acreage just outside the
city where they will be living in farm house situated on 200 acres of land.
They are so excited.
Their present home…
Well
with the new farm house on the horizon and the move taking place… they are
escaping the present living conditions of a small apartment on a shady
Peterborough street… which is a “row house” of years ago.
My
rough guess is that the building they live in is over 100 years old.
Their
belongings are piled up on one side of the room ready for moving.
It
was after my question about the very old building and what they knew of it that
they kind of stumbled with how much they hate the place.
When
you look closely you can see how tired the apartment is and how long ago it is since
anything was done.
They
told what they pay for rent – a whopping $1500 per month – for the upstairs and
main floor units. But when they told us that their electric bill is averaging
$700 a month – I nearly fell of the couch.
How could that be?
They
have to use space heaters to heat the place – the furnace doesn’t work. There
is warning plastered on the furnace that it is not to be used. The Gas Company
has issued that warning – there is something seriously wrong with the furnace…
It is very Dangerous – it would appear that if it is used they could die from
the resulting problem!!
A
window that broke had to be replaced. Someone came and took the pane of glass
out of one and put in another. Not sure
if I got that story completely straight – but it appears that a Property
Manager has taken his liberty to deal with issues on his own in a very CHEAP
WAY! (Guess who is pocketing money!)
When
Miss K complained to the Property Manager about …furnace… window… whatever… he
has a simple, straight forward, ignorant answer… are you ready for this… it is
a direct quote… “Move your shit!” – which is common street language, “If you
don’t like it get out… there are plenty more people I can rent to that will do as
I say!”
Has
anyone told this Jackass Property Manager that a place without a furnace in
Ontario, in the cold of winter, is dangerous for little kids to live in? Has anyone told him that the space heaters
they have to use, that cost a bundle – are dangerously over loading a
system that is not wired to do that job!!!?
A fire could start and the family could be wiped out… or worse yet – ALL
DIE!
How
could anyone pay $700 a month? Well you
see they are on social assistance.. and whatever the cost is that month the
social assistance people simple give them a portion of the costs. So if they have to use space heaters – no problem.
If the furnace doesn’t work – it is not the Social Assistance people that are
at fault – it is the Landlord first (who likely doesn’t even know about it) or
the Property Manager who can rent it again at exorbitant prices – in a heartbeat
to more people that are struggling to keep their heads above water too.
Yep,
“Move your shit!” That’s so stupid there
are no words to really tell you what I think.
By
the way – there are ten rentable apartments in that row house owned by the same
owner. Simple math tells you that she is raking in $7,000 a month on this one
row house – and she pays nothing for repairs… or if she does… the Property Manager
is pocketing the money and doing nothing.
Someday,
someone in that row house will die. But guaranteed the Owner will not be at
fault… neither will the Property Manager… the silly, struggling young mom with
three kids in one apartment, or the dad with his daughter alone in the other
area – will be at fault – but not the fine lady making $7,000 per month for
doing nothing!
If
I could only get a hold of this Owner and tell her to, “Get your Ass out here
take a look at what you are doing to young families!”
And
if I could ever speak to that Property Manager, I wouldn’t have words to reason
with him. He simply is worthless and the Stupid, Fine Lady doesn’t have a clue
how bad he is making her look.
There
– now I feel I have your attention. Do
you think you would be willing to go with me and talk to the Fire Department
about what is happening in that place?
Would you be willing to speak to Mayor Daryl Bennett with me about where
his City Money is going to – or maybe we should speak to the Member of
Provincial Parliament, Jeff Leal and ask what he thinks about how the Ontario Money is being spent in this way because the Manager/Owner doesn’t give a rip.
But
if we did that 10 families wouldn’t have a place to live anymore.
You
know… I hate knowing what I know… but I am so glad that Miss K and Mr. K will
be leaving at the end of August… so very glad. I am so looking forward to this
wedding coming up and their brand new start!!!!
SHEESH!
~
Murray Lincoln ~
No comments:
Post a Comment