I was evicted from my apartment after 16 years, because I had a couple of friends over on Dec. 11, 2020. I made a Blog post about this on my website at: https://www.brianruhe.ca/brian-ruhes-coviction/
The COVID rules at that time, with the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), were that you can have no visitors, so I cheated but I didn't think it affected my tenancy. I thought I just ran the risk of the police fining me $230. Let's hope my eviction is not a precedent throughout the world. Half the human population of the planet could be homeless, LOL!! This is Orwellian doublespeak! Please donate at: https://www.brianruhe.ca/please-donate/ to cover my moving costs after my eviction from my apartment after 16 years, for these damned COVID violations.
This is an edited version below of the first paper that I filed in my dispute with the Residential Tenancy Branch in British Columbia, Canada:
Brian Ruhe’s Dispute for Notice to End Tenancy For Cause, contents
File Number: 910031252. Submitted March 2, 2021
I have lived here almost 16 years. I am a senior, 61. I have gotten along well enough with the owner’s family for 16 years and also rented with them in 1985.
I was surprised by this Notice from the manager as it is very unfair & unjust.
The accusations against me seem to be unreasonable.
I will write out or refer to the manager’s statements, some in brief, with my response sometimes in CAPITALS, for clarity.
The three boxes ticked are:
Significantly interfered with or unreasonably disturbed another occupant or the landlord.
NO. THIS IS EXPLAINED BELOW.
Seriously jeopardized the health or safety or lawful right of another occupant or the landlord.
NO. I’M JUST LIKE MOST PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING. NO DIFFERENT.
Put the landlord’s property at significant risk
NOT AT ALL. ON DEC. 16TH OWNER ISSUED ME A WRITTEN WARNING AND I ACCEPTED IT, SO THAT IS ALREADY SETTLED. DONE. I PREVIOUSLY TOOK TWO ABANDONED CHAIRS, WHICH WERE MARKED FOR DUMPING, FROM THE UNDERGROUND PARKING AREA. THEN DIDN’T WANT THEM AND PUT THEM BACK. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT WE WEREN’T ALLOWED THERE AS I HAD WALKED THROUGH THERE OVER 15 YEARS. A VERBAL WARNING WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH.
The long opening paragraph is 11 lines. My response to that is:
Not true. It has not been a lengthy troublesome relationship. The manager stated that a previous roommate, Alex (who left in 2018) was aggressive but I don’t believe this. He told me this months after Alex moved out. He didn’t warn me at the time.
My current roommate, had a short talk/ minor altercation with the building manager, asking him, “What is wrong?” but we apologized and manager accepted that. This was settled in an email exchange. Done.
I have had very few guests over, as described below. I didn’t fully understand to what extent we can’t have guests.
It is not true that we fail to maintain physical distancing. When the manager gave reminders and warnings I was and am good at complying.
He states, “This open disregard for the law, and intentionally and blatant non compliance with health orders, jeopardizes the health and safety of other residents and building staff.”
This statement is false. We wear a mask every time, while some other tenants don’t. Our actions don’t endanger others.
“This disrespectful behavior takes away the quiet enjoyment that other tenants are entitled to.”
I hardly interact with any other tenants at all. This statement is false. I have been respectful for all these 16 years.
The letter states: “Some of the instances include but are not limited to,”
2. Tenant had 4 non resident guests in his apartment for a few hours, this was mentioned to management by 2 other residents. The building manager reminded the tenant about the PHO’s.
I HAD A FEW FRIENDS OVER. MANAGER REMINDED ME LATER ON DEC. 18th ABOUT PHO’S RULES ABOUT GUESTS. I SAID THAT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THIS DID NOT AFFECT MY TENANCY. MANAGER SAID, “BUT IT IS THE LAW.” I DON’T KNOW. MANAGER DID NOT SAY THIS WOULD AFFECT MY TENANCY.
3. Dec. 18, 2020, 9:20 am:
Feeding the squirrel objection. Misrepresents the situation and it’s so minor.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO HE ASKED ME TO STOP FEEDING THE PIGEONS AND I STOPPED PERMANENTLY. HE NEVER MENTIONED A BI-LAW ABOUT SQUIRRELS.
“A female non resident was in his unit at the time.”
THIS IS MY GIRLFRIEND, WHO HAS COME FOR YEARS!
MANAGER HAS SPOKEN TO HER MANY TIMES AND KNOWN HER SINCE HE STARTED IN 2016. SHE IS PART OF MY BUBBLE. HE BRINGS THIS UP IN NINE POINTS (6 to 14) HERE, AS THOUGH HE DOESN’T KNOW MY GIRLFRIEND!
5. Jan. 1 11:45 am
Hugged a lady outside, beyond the property and got into that the awaiting SUV and we weren’t wearing masks. I shook her hand without wearing gloves, etc.
I MET A MARRIED COUPLE AND HUGGED THE LADY WHO I WORK CLOSELY WITH (Diane Chase and her husband). ON FEB. 8TH MANAGER SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TWO WEEKS BEFORE, NOT FIVE WEEKS. I SAID “NO” BECAUSE OF THE DATE.
