‘It won’t pay to be a slumlord’

‘It won’t pay to be a slumlord’
Applebaum: New rules could put them out of business

By Dan Delmar

In the coming weeks, negligent landlords in Montreal may find themselves in a world of trouble if serious problems are found in one of their buildings.

Côte des Neiges-NDG mayor Michael Applebaum, who is the executive committee member in charge of housing, told The Suburban that if city inspectors find major issues in one building, the owner’s other properties will be targeted in an inspection blitz.

“We’re still working on a plan,” he said, adding that the new regulations should be ready in less than three months. “The city will become stricter on delinquent landlords.”

Most landlords who let apartment buildings go and are fined by the city will conduct the necessary repairs, Applebaum said, but legal measures are necessary for a few who do not comply. That was the case with Robert Sebag, who recently sold his Vézina Ave. slum to a city-funded non-profit group. Applebaum said fines were piling up and it would have cost Sebag too much to pay them all, which is the desired effect for the city’s new policy.

The plan is to relentlessly fine slumlords until they submit. They will either have to conduct extensive repairs or sell the buildings to someone who will. Applebaum said legal manoeuvring will also be more difficult for the negligent owners; the city is working on a plan with the courts to fast-track cases involving housing.

“We’ve had discussions with the municipal court and they understand the urgency.”

If a slumlord owns multiple problem buildings, they could quickly find themselves drowning in debt, according to Applebaum.

“We will systematically inspect all the buildings that are owned by these landlords. We have to become stricter and faster,” he said. “The fines will be so excessive that it won’t pay to be a slumlord in Montreal.”

The first step for tenants who find themselves living in substandard housing units is to alert the city of Montreal (information can be obtained via the 3-1-1 service) so inspections can be carried out. Landlords face fines if repairs outlined in the inspector’s report are not carried out within a certain timeframe.

Applebaum said inspections were done in buildings highlighted by The Suburban, like one at 4309-4311 Beaconsfield Ave., which is managed by Marc Émile Barchichat, a Montreal lawyer whose company owns several apartment buildings, with partner Philippe Stenger. Inspectors found only small issues in that building, but Applebaum said some residents did not invite inspectors into their homes.