Can’t move in
Apartment buildings not ready for university students
WATERLOO — Once again some university students find themselves without a home as new apartment buildings fail to open in time for school.
By Thursday just 799 of 2,289 bedrooms expected to open this fall had been approved for occupancy. That’s 35-per-cent completion, representing possible delays at up to eight campus-area buildings.
Charlotte Hings, 22, was told Wednesday that she can’t move into a 14-storey building at 130 Columbia St. W. as planned Sunday, to begin graduate studies at the University of Waterloo.
Coming from Montreal, she’ll stay in a hotel at her landlord’s expense with her furniture in storage for two weeks or more until occupancy is approved.
“It’s just really stressful because going to school and living in a hotel is disorderly and I’m just kind of nervous about that,” she said.
She had been assured the building would open on time. She checked on it over the summer. “They said they have a history of moving in people early,” she said.
Her landlord blames heavy rain for costing 50 construction days. It has indeed been wet: by late July this region had seen 50 per cent more rain than an average year.
“We have been working really hard through the whole period, but certainly in the last number of weeks, to try and get the building into a condition that was move-in ready,” said Danny Roth, spokesperson for Accomod8u. “Certainly there has been unhappiness to say the least, and we understand that … We certainly recognize the inconvenience that this is causing.”
Tenants who don’t choose to stay in a hotel will see their rent reduced, Roth said.
Hings can’t see why her landlord gave her just four days notice. “I feel if it was just rain they would have known a lot earlier and would have been able to say that earlier, but they didn’t.”
Roth said: “As soon as we were clear that we were not going to make that date, we immediately advised the tenants … If we said a month out you’re not getting in, and then three days before said you are going in, that would
create sort of an equal inconvenience.”
Tenants can track occupancy at 11 new buildings on the City of Waterloo’s website. City hall recently launched the new feature to help tenants stay informed. Go to waterloo.ca and search multiunit construction.
“I do hope there are a number of buildings that are very close,” Coun. Jeff Henry said. “I do hope that folks learn from this and figure out how to manage contracts better.”
The city can’t predict when it will grant occupancy. It has health and safety codes to follow.
“I hear from students and sometimes parents about the frustration of simply not knowing,” Henry said. “The more it drags on, the harder and harder it gets for students to manage.”
Leases typically address compensation if occupancy is delayed. In years past, some students have asked a rental tribunal to rule.