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PAGE 8. wWIY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27,19M0 Seniors upset over rent increases By Mike Kowalsd Residents of two Whitby seniors' apartment buildings are furious te learn they are respon- sible for financial losses suffered by the landlord when the build- ings were purchased. Tenants of 225 Hickory St. and 15 Regency Ones. have been bit with rent increases tetalling 16.36 per cent. The increases include an upfront figure of 11.38, per cent, plus an additional 4.98 per cent in back rent. The arrears average between .%300 and $600, depending on the xnonthly rent. paid by tenante, according te, the landlord's spok- esman. However, tenante interviewed by The Free Press say some residents must pay almost $1 000 in back rent. k;rther upsetting the tenante is a letter from the landiord which states the arrears muet ho paid by June 30 or legal action wiII commence. Meanwhile, tqnante may have no recourse from the Ontario government. Provincial rent review legisla- tion allows landiords to recover from tenants' rente any financial losses experienoeci when pur- chasing ani apartment building. The six-year-old buildigs were purchased by the Goldwmn Group of Downsview from the original owners, a group of Whitby business people, in 1987. Goldwin was granted a rent increase for this y ear plus back rent, termed a "phasemm" effec- tive Nov. 1, 1989. The order covers 248 units in the two build- m1argaret Young is typical of the residents. She nowN paya $573 for a one- bedroom apartmnent but will b. payig$625 next month. Ini addi- tinhe. must pay $300 i arrears. «We thought something 1ke this would happen with the new owners, but you're shocked when you get it,» said Young . "One woman 1Italked te la extremely upset. She's juat on a widow's pension, she doesn't know how she'll get by.» Ralph and Marjorie Smith wil be paying $725 for their two- bedroom apartment on July 1, an increase of $90. They muet aise pay $128 in back rent. 'Why should we ho ayngfor their losses? We didni't tel them te buy these apartnients,» said fIg oaneighbor and saylI have. to buy a new ce, hie shouldn't be expected te help pay.Why should weif they're too stupid te buy itr" Goldwin property manager Jill Jobson said her company had "no intention te scare anybody or upset anybody» when it issued the letter concerning the arrears. She said the letter had te b. worded strongly or it would be ignored. «W're quite hapy temake arrangements with anyone. We're not suggesting you have te, pay or move tomorrow.» Job son said tenante knew that both the rent increase and phase-in order were coming. Tlhe rent increase was granted in March while the phase-i was dated May 30. "If they didn't make provisions for it, it's not my fault. It's up te us te colleet it,» said Jobson. "W. won't kick anyone out but if they ignr it the next step is te o t e or." Joso doubted any tenant will ho paying as much as $1,000, in back rent, saying the average is $300-$600. "If someone owes $800 it's because they've been short pay- in» Le refùsed te discuss Gold- win's dlaim for fmancial losses i its application for the rent hike. àTh rent review board found it in order, they granted us the increase.» Chris Daffern, manager of the Ontario Ministiy of Housing rent review office i Oshawa, said that under existing legisiation there are no provisions for an autematie public hearing during the initial review of a rent i- crease application. "I terme of the initial process, as each application is acknowl- edged and processed, al parties have an op,?ortunity te make submissions, soaid Daffern. "Tenants would have had opportunity te make submissions for her (rent review administra- ter) te consider.» After the rent hicrease order ia issued, tenante have 30 days te file an appeal should they wish te challenge it. A héaring before- a rent review board is then scheduled. Once the time limit for an appeal has expired, tenants can request an extension. "The board grants it on the menite of the case if ite filed out of time. I can't prejudge what the rent review hearing board will do,» said Daffern. Daffern could not diseuss Gold- win's reasons for seeking the rent increase but said ail tenants would have received that infor- mation -and the government'a reasons for grantmng the Jn- crease. A tenant who would only iden- tilSr himself as "Walter»,planned te enlist the help of the Durhani Legal Clinic in fighting the in- crease. H. planned te caîl a tenants' meeting this week te plot stra- seems..te me the rent review people side with the ian- dlords. I t appears at face value they're not working for senior citizens but the capitalistic people in the world,» said Walter. Ralph Smith demanded te know why the rent review office was not representing tenante in their fight. 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