Challenges of renting

Dear Editor: I am a single working mom of two girls ages five and seven who spends more than three-quarters of my working income on rent. I received a two-month eviction notice from my property manager after I had informed him I would be out of the province.

It was mailed to me knowing I wouldn’t be home, or so he thought. It was mailed with the intent that I would not be around to dispute it. My registered letter was then signed by another tenant and placed on my door.You can kick me out of my home, yet can’t face me to do it.

To the person who bought his house, I completely understand that with a salary of $75,000-plus a year it is necessary for you to live in my mold-infested, delapitated severely neglected suite. A suite that I have spent the last year renovating and making a home.

A place where I have spend hundreds of dollars and many hours cleaning and maintaining a yard so my children have a place to play. A place where I have never been late paying rent in the four years I have lived here, nor had a complaint against me as a neighbour.

I really appreciate the fact that I now have to move my children away from the home they grew up in, away from their father, their family, their school, their friends, my job, my friends and the only life my children know.

Your welcome for renovating your new suite, your welcome that I spent money for my family to maintain your yard. The thank you is much appreciated!

Unfortunately this has become a familiar story in the town of Penticton — people buying houses and evicting the tenants without any consideration as to the effect it causes. Handing out two-month eviction notices just to find out the suite was re-rented within a month.

Handing out eviction notices based on lies and deceit. It’s apparent this town has somewhere lost its sense of community and replaced it with greed. It seems that it doesn’t matter who’s life you destroy, as long as your bank account continues to grow. At what point does this stop? To the next person who is given an eviction notice, know your rights and don’t be afraid to fight. To the next person who knowingly and willingly evicts their tenant under false pretenses, I hope you are exposed for what you are! You all should be ashamed of yourselves! Tina Vonau

Penticton